Cottenham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Cottenham poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Cottenham?

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

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

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

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 in the UK.

In 1605 this happened, and people have celebrated Bonfire Night 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 an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

The king was present and the plan was to kill him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but was cold feet.

Once they learned about the plan, Fawkes and Catesby as well as the other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here.

The Parliament made a statement that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November in order to be thankful.

We went to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century was more similar to what we are seeing today.

What are you going to wear to the events?

Depending on where they live, people tend to dress up in different costumes for Bonfire Night.

This is in preparation for the events.

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

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

You don’t have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that helps you protect yourself against the cold weather is more than welcome.

The Bonfire Night has traditions associated with it.

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

It is 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, the events of Bonfire Night include a firework display and a large bonfire.

Bonfire Night attractions

You will find many amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

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 get to enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible fireworks for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions:

  • During Bonfire Night, flaming tar barrels are carried on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • The largest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. You are bound to find bonfires and 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 to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the 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 preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • A homemade model of a man is often burned in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are also used to cook all kinds of food, which is why they are not just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

There are more than just bonfires and fireworks at the Bonfire Night events.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families eat soup and share it with friends and family.

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues as a staple event.

It is a great time for people to come together and enjoy some great food.

The event has impressed many people over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there's no denying that it shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Cottenham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Cottenham Bonfire Night