Dundee Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Dundee poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Dundee?

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

But what does it mean to people and why do they love them 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 the Bonfire Night associated with?

The main reason why Bonfire Night exists in the UK is because it’s 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.

This happened in 1605, and people have been celebrating the Bonfire Night ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

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

The king was in attendance and the plan was to assassinate him.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament, however, he got cold feet.

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

The Parliament stated that the conspirators were caught and punished.

The Parliament decided to make the 5th of November a day to be thankful for and therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

After that, we went to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community event over the years.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers due to the focus being on having fun.

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

Bonfire Night attractions

There are some amazing attractions in the UK.

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions.

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 exist:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest fireworks displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and amazing 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 out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Nights. This is in reference to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. In some areas, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do 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. A lot of people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle.

What should you wear at the event?

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

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

Most people like to show off their winter clothes during the Bonfire Night.

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

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

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and other items are 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 friends and other family members.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes.

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 way.

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

Summing up

Every year, Bonfire Night becomes a staple event.

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

It has impressed many people over the years.

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 parts of Bonfire Night are happiness and a good time, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Dundee Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Dundee, Dundee City, Alba / Scotland, DD1 1SA, United Kingdom

Organiser: Dundee Bonfire Night