Ely Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Ely poster

Every year in Ely, 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 Ely?

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

So why do people love these festivities so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night in a few minutes.

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the Bonfire Night celebrations.

Since 1605 people have been celebrating Bonfire Night.

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was there.

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

The other conspirators were taken into custody here once they learned of the plan.

The Parliament stated that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

We were eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

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

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals to be prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

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

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people because they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You will be able 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:

  • The bonfires are not meant to be just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat during the Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • During the Bonfire Night processions, flaming tar barrels can be carried on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had in order to blow up the Parliament building.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in a bid to get some money for the fireworks. In some regions, 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 are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

What should you wear to the event?

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

In preparation for the events, this is an interesting approach.

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 usually the right way to go.

You don't have to dress up in a costume, but a proper outfit that protects you against the cold is more than welcome.

In the end

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

The event has impressed many people over the years.

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

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

Ely Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Ely, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Ely Bonfire Night