Bellshill Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Bellshill poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Bellshill?

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years and is one of those incredible celebrations.

But what is it that makes people love these celebrations so much?

Here are a few things you can do to get up to speed with the Bonfire Night.

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because Bonfire Night is a way to celebrate.

This happened in 1605 and people have celebrated it ever since.

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being too tolerant of the Catholics.

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

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

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to assassinate him.

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

Once they learned about the plan, Fawkes and Catesby as well as the other conspirators ended up being taken into custody here.

The Parliament made a statement that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We made our way to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

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

The event looked similar as the 20th century went on.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, there is a firework display followed by a large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night?

The Bonfire Night celebrations are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

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

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

It’s also important to note that some families eat soups too, and they share it with friends or other family members.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for people to show off their winter clothing.

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here, and certainly something to keep in mind.

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

There are some great 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, as well as smaller events.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night has become a community-focused event where 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 pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

Here are some traditions that are common:

  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. There are bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. People heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, to blow up the Parliament building.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of straws or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • "Penny for the guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world, you can find kids blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

It is one of those events that have impressed people in the past.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there’s no denying that over the years Bonfire Night shifted towards being a more community-friendly event.

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

Bellshill Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Alba / Scotland, ML4 1AJ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Bellshill Bonfire Night