Holytown Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about Holytown's bonfire night?

An annual event over the years, the Bonfire Night is one of those incredible celebrations.

Why do people love these festivities so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night associated with?

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

In 1605 this happened and people have celebrated the night ever since.

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

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

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Westminster.

The king was in attendance, so the plan was to kill him during the process.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after he got cold feet.

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

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

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

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

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

Over the years it has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister.

The celebration was renamed at the beginning of the 20th century by firework manufacturers to Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night because of the focus on having fun.

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

Bonfire Night attractions

There are many great attractions and events in the UK.

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

Yes, 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, like-minded people.

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

Here are some traditions that are common:

• The bonfires are not just a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people make soup for them. Some people cook potatoes in a foil with marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
• 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. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
• The tradition of "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting one. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks. 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.
• Some of the biggest cities in the country have some of the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
• It is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

This is obviously a clear 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.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only celebrations of the night.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November, which is when these are eaten throughout the country.

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

What are you going to wear for the events?

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 wardrobe.

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

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

Summing up

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

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

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

Holytown Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Holytown, North Lanarkshire, Alba / Scotland, ML1 4RH, United Kingdom

Organiser: Holytown Bonfire Night