Yaxley Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Yaxley poster

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

What information is important to know about Yaxley's Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night is one of those incredible festivities and celebrations that have been adopted as an annual event over the years.

Why do people love the festivities so much?

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

What is a common association with Bonfire Night?

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 celebrated Bonfire Night.

There was a lot of anger against the king, due to the fact that he was against the Catholics.

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

A group of people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

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

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

The conspirators were taken into custody once they learned about the plan.

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were punished.

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

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

There are Bonfire Night activities all over the UK.

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

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

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

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

During Bonfire Night people use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers.

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

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

Bonfire Night attractions

There are a lot of 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 good time, and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

There are some common traditions:

  • It is very common for people in the UK to make a homemade model of a man and burn it in effigy. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order 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 about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be 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. Some cooks wrap potatoes in a foil and cook them with marshmallows or sausages. People eat a traditional cake called the parking cake on Bonfire Night. There is a cake with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

What should you wear to the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live on Bonfire Night

This approach is quite interesting, and it is being prepared for the events.

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

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

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

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

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

It’s a great opportunity for people to reconnect, celebrate and also enjoy some amazing foods.

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

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

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.

Yaxley Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

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

Organiser: Yaxley Bonfire Night