Soham Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Soham poster

Every year in Soham, on November 5, we come together to celebrate Bonfire Night, with fireworks lighting up the skies across the county of Cambridgeshire.

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Soham?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

What is a common association with 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.

Since 1605 people have celebrated Bonfire Night.

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

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would bring Catholicism back to its rightful place.

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

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

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament.

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November as a day to be thankful.

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed throughout the UK in locations like Cambridgeshire.

Despite the fact that its origins are sinister, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event over the years.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked very similar to what we are experiencing today.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, in a safe manner.

Most of the time, these events end with a firework display and a big bonfire.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

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

There are plenty of foods associated with this event as well.

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

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

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

What should you wear at the event?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for 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 here in winter.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

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

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people because everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

You can also 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:

  • "Penny for the Guy" is a tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money to buy fireworks. In some areas 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 not 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 wrapped in foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The Parking Cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays for firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple event.

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

Over the years, it has been one of those events that people have been impressed with.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became a more community-friendly event over time.

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

Soham Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

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

Organiser: Soham Bonfire Night