East Kilbride Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in East Kilbride poster

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

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

The Bonfire Night has become an annual event over the years because of it's incredible festivities.

Why do people love these festivals so much?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a quick overview.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

It is a way to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes as he tried to assassinate King James I and also blow up the parliament in the UK.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

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

Robert and Guy were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king while he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament made a statement about the situation and shared the fact 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 for.

We were led to the Bonfire Night.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities can be found throughout the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite its origins being sinister.

The firework manufacturers decided to change the celebration's name to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century because of its focus on having fun.

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

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

There are a lot of things associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that are prepared around the 5th of November as well.

It is important to note that some families eat soup and share it with friends or family.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to this.

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

What should you wear at the event?

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

This approach is quite interesting, and is being prepared 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 often the right way to go here.

It is not necessary to dress up in a costume to protect yourself against the cold weather.

There are attractions during the night.

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events with food and drinks being shared with the community.

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 can also enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible pyrotechnics for a night to remember.

There are some common traditions:

  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find amazing firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are not meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of bonfires. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very delicious.
  • It’s very common for many people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the parliament building.

Bottom line

Every year, there is a staple event called Bonfire Night.

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

It is one of the events that have impressed people over the years.

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

We can expect this event to continue for years and years to come, because happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night.

East Kilbride Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Alba / Scotland, G74 1JT, United Kingdom

Organiser: East Kilbride Bonfire Night