Forfar Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Forfar poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Forfar?

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

Why do people love these events?

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night with a 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 because he wanted to blow up the parliament.

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

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was considered to be racist against the Catholics.

There was a vision that only an armed struggle would return Catholicism to its rightful place.

Some people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace.

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

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

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

The Parliament made a public statement about the situation and shared that the conspirators were caught.

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

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are a lot of Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

The origins of the event are sinister, but it has become a community focused event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century looked similar to what we are seeing today.

The Bonfire Night has traditions.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during 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, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

The Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for 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.

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome, even if you don't have to dress up.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing happening.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

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

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

It is important to note that some families share their soups with friends and other family members.

There are attractions during Bonfire Night.

There are lots of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions where smaller events also take place.

For a lot of people, Bonfire Night is now a community-focused event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to burn a homemade model of a man. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • The bonfires aren't just meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is very interesting. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, 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 the processions. The plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building are a nod to this.
  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country.

In the end

A staple event over the years, Bonfire Night continues every year.

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great 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 is no denying that it has become a more community-friendly event.

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.

Forfar Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Royal Burgh of Forfar, Angus, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom

Organiser: Forfar Bonfire Night