Galashiels Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Galashiels poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Galashiels?

The Bonfire Night is an annual event that has been adopted as an incredible event over the years.

Why do people love these festivals so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I and also tried to blow up the parliament in order to celebrate the failure of the event.

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

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

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were Catholics who wanted an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

These two and other supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The king was in attendance there, so the plan was also to assassinate him during the process.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but ended up getting cold feet.

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

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

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

We ended up at the Bonfire Night.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in a number of locations.

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

firework manufacturers rebranded the celebration at the beginning of the 20th century because it was focused on having fun.

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

What should you wear?

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

It is quite an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

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

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

There are attractions during the night.

The UK has a lot of amazing attractions and events.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also 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 people.

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

There are some traditions that are common:

  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas, you are bound to find bonfires and firework displays all over the country.
  • The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook all kinds of food. A lot of people cook soup for the people who come by to watch the fireworks. It is possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil as well as marshmallows or sausages. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. The cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There is an interesting tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in the days leading up to the Bonfire Night to ask for money to buy fireworks. In some parts of the world 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 common for people in the UK to make an effigy of a man and burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and meant to represent Guy Fawkes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

There are traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

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

Which foods are popular during the night?

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 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.

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

Bottom line

Every year, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

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

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that the event has evolved into 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!

Galashiels Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Galashiels, Scottish Borders, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom

Organiser: Galashiels Bonfire Night