Godmanchester Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Godmanchester poster

Every year in Godmanchester, 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 Godmanchester's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event over the years.

Why do people like these festivities so much?

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

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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

Since 1605 people have been celebrating the Bonfire Night.

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

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

The people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

The plan was to assassinate the king as he was in attendance.

A conspiracy member got cold feet after sending a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody after learning about the plan.

The Parliament shared with the public 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.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK.

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 being on having fun.

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening during the night.

There are lots of things associated with this event.

In fact, things like the jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee or the toffee apples are widely associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

Some families share their soups with friends and family members.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community and 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 watch 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:

  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to Bonfire Night to ask for money for fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The biggest cities in the country get the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing firework displays.
  • It is common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with clothes.
  • The bonfires are meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake named the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

The majority of the time, there is a firework display and a large bonfire.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

Over the years, it's one of those events that has impressed people.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is 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.

Godmanchester Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, England, United Kingdom

Organiser: Godmanchester Bonfire Night