Glasgow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Glasgow poster

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

What should you know about Glasgow's bonfire night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has evolved into an annual event.

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 its popularity with a quick rundown.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes tried to assassinate King James I is that it is a way to celebrate the failure of the event.

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

There was a lot of anger against the king at that time, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king, who was in attendance.

A conspiracy member got cold feet and sent a letter to parliament.

The other conspirators were also taken into custody after 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.

We went to the bonfire Night.

Nowadays there are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

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

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers because of its focus on having fun.

In the 20th century, the event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

What should you wear?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it’s quite an interesting approach.

The Bonfire Night is a great time to show off your winter clothes.

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

A proper outfit that protects you against the cold weather is more than welcome.

Traditions related to the night of bonfires.

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

This is a clear nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they attempted to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

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

There are attractions during Bonfire 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.

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

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

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people cook soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The traditional parking cake is eaten on the Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • 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 are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the biggest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There's a tradition called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street and try to get some money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. There are kids that blackened their faces in some regions, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during processions. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

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

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, or the toffee apples are all associated with the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions even have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

Some families eat soups and share them with friends or other family members.

Summing up

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event and continues every year

It is a great time for people to get together and enjoy some great 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 it shifted towards being 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.

Glasgow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Glasgow, Glasgow City, Alba / Scotland, G2 9SF, United Kingdom

Organiser: Glasgow Bonfire Night