Woodford Green Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Woodford Green poster

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

What information is important to know about Woodford Green's Bonfire Night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these things so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick rundown.

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since many thought he was against the Catholics.

Robert and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The king was in attendance and the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished in a public statement.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

People parade in costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during Bonfire Night

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

The majority of the time, these events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared among the community.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event where everyone has a good time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will also be able to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible firework displays for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plan that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all associated with Bonfire Night.

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and other family members.

What are you going to wear for the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and is being prepared for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great time for most people to show off their winter wear.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even though you don't have to dress up.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to be a staple event.

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

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

The most important parts of the event are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this to continue for many years to come.

Woodford Green Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Woodford Green, Woodford, London Borough of Redbridge, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Woodford Green Bonfire Night