The recently celebrated Halloween is a perfect example of an American cultural phenomenon which is slowly taking over the world. But, just like not everyone drinks Pepsi, not everyone gets involved in this event the way that communities do Stateside. Plus, global celebrations do tend to overshadow local ones. And early November sees a pair of very English events that we at the Varsity Hotel Cambridge always remember.
Bonfire Night
“Remember, Remember the Fifth of November. Gunpowder, Treason and Plot!”
The Fifth of November saw what some consider to be England’s equivalent to Halloween. At least on the surface. Crowds gather around huge bonfires in the early evening to watch firework displays. Children enjoy traditional English “delicacies” such as toffee apples and treacle toffee. While their parents enjoy the year’s first batches of mulled wine.
But look a little deeper and Bonfire Night starts to differ greatly from the community based friendliness of Halloween. For underneath the fireworks and fun is a celebration of the defeat of a plot by religious fanatics to kill the King, overthrow the Government, and usher in a theocratic state.
That might sound a little trite these days – like the plot of a Hollywood B movie. But this event happened 400 years ago, and these religious fanatics were Catholics. However, inter-Faith relations have come a long way since then, so it has been a very long time since burning the effigies of Catholics on bonfires in celebration was deemed politically correct. Making it understandable why this tradition has changed into a more inclusive version over the years.
However, at the Varsity Hotel it remains a key moment of each year. For this is the swansong for our lovely, open air Roof Terrace for the season.
Remembrance Sunday
The other quintessentially English event this week is a much more sombre affair, though also far more poignant. Most nations have a day to remember those who have fought and died in service of the nation’s military. Often associated with a great military victory which saved or birthed the nation.
The eleventh of November is that day for England. For it was on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918 that the most costly war in English history ended. The First World War. The Great War. Erroneously called “the war to end all wars”.
While WWII is often considered a just war, the Great War is often considered to be a pointless war that never should have been fought. And despite lasting 2 fewer years than WWII, Britain suffered far more casualties during WWI. Making it all the more terrible. Something to be remembered as a cautionary tale, hopefully never to be repeated.
As ever, we at the Varsity Hotel remember.
