Wokingham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Wokingham poster

Every year in Wokingham, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Berkshire.

What should you know about Wokingham's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

What does it mean to people and why do they love these celebrations so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick rundown.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I while also attempting to blow up the parliament.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being against the Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed that only an armed struggle would restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

The conspirators were taken into custody after they learned of the plan.

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

The Parliament decided that the 5th of November would be a day to be thankful for.

We went to the Bonfire Night after that.

In places like Berkshire, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite its sinister beginnings.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear to the events?

Depending on where you live, people tend to dress up in various costumes.

This approach is quite interesting and is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time to show off your winter clothes.

Something to keep in mind is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the best way to go here.

You don't have to wear a costume if you have a proper outfit that protects you from the cold weather.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with fireworks.

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

The jacket potato is one of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country, and some regions even have their own special meals they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

Some families share their soups with friends or other family members.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use fireworks, flaming torches, and sparklers on Bonfire Night.

It's clear that this is a nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks shared with the community.

It has become a community-focused event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

However, you will also get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some traditions that are common:

  • There are firework displays all over the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a fictional character. This effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • "Penny for the guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for the fireworks. In some regions you can even find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook food. A lot of people make soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. There are some people who cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and eat amazing food.

Over the years it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has become a more community-friendly event over the years.

The most important part of Bonfire Night is happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come.

Wokingham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Berkshire, West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Wokingham Bonfire Night