Elgin Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Elgin poster

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

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

The annual celebration of the Bonfire Night has been adopted as an annual event over the years.

What is it that makes people love these festivities so much?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

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

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

The plan was to kill the king during the process, because he was in attendance.

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

The conspirators who were involved in the plan were taken into custody after they learned about it.

The Parliament shared that the conspirators were caught and punished in a public statement.

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

It eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

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

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

What should you wear for the Bonfire Night events?

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

In preparation for the events, this is an interesting approach.

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

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 weather is more than welcome.

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers at Bonfire Night.

It is clear 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 and a large bonfire.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

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

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

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

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

Some families eat soup and share it with friends or family members.

There are attractions during the night.

There are some great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, there are usually large bonfires, food and drinks shared with the community, and smaller events.

It's become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

There are some common traditions:

  • The tradition is 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 to blow up the parliament building.
  • An effigy, a homemade model of a man, is very common in the UK. The effigy is usually made out of paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and ask for money in order to buy 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 meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. The crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil, as well as marshmallows and sausages. There is a traditional parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very delicious.

In the end

Every year, Bonfire Night is a staple event.

It is a great time for people to connect, celebrate and 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 over the years the event has evolved into a more community-friendly event.

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

Elgin Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Elgin, Moray, Alba / Scotland, IV30 1EB, United Kingdom

Organiser: Elgin Bonfire Night