Cathays Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cathays poster

Every year in Cathays, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, all over the county of Cardiff we gather around the bonfire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Cathays?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event, one of those incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by following 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 and also blow up the parliament in the UK.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist against the Catholics.

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

The supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king because he was there.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

The Parliament said that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light bonfires on the 5th of November to be thankful for.

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" because of the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

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

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

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

What should you wear?

People tend to dress up in various costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night.

It is quite an interesting approach that is being prepared for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and something to keep in mind.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you mostly have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other people.

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.

Some traditions are common:

  • There are firework displays all over the country with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
  • There's a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • In the UK it is very common for people to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before Bonfire Night. In some regions you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning 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. Many people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional dessert people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes.

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.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues, and has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great foods.

Over the years, it has impressed people.

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

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for years and years to come!

Cathays Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cathays, Cardiff, Cymru / Wales, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cathays Bonfire Night