Cheddar Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cheddar poster

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

What information is important to know about Cheddar'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 festivities so much, what does it mean?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a quick list.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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 in the UK.

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

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, but he got cold feet.

The other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here after they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a public statement regarding the situation, shared the fact that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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.

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of Bonfire Night activities.

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 by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night" because it was focused on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to that.

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

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is interesting.

The Bonfire Night is a good time for people to show off their winter clothes.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions.

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 like minded people.

You will also get to see 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:

  • 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 in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Some of the biggest cities in the country have firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is a tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money to buy fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of the Bonfire Night are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are just a few of the things that are associated with the Bonfire Night.

Some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well, and they are eaten throughout the country.

Some families share their soups with friends and family members.

Conclusion

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

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

Over the years it has impressed many people.

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

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

Cheddar Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cheddar, Sedgemoor, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cheddar Bonfire Night