Johnstone Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Johnstone poster

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

What should you know about Johnstone's bonfire night?

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

What does it mean and why do people love these celebrations so much?

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

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.

People have celebrated the Bonfire Night since 1605.

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

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king when he was in attendance.

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

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

The Parliament shared 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 therefore the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which, eventually, led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

The fireworks 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.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You will find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

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

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

There are some common traditions:

  • Some of the largest fireworks displays can be found in the biggest cities in the country. Even in rural areas, you can find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • There is a tradition called "Penny for the guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for money for fireworks. 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.
  • Many people in the UK burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper or straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a wide range of food. A lot of people heat up soup for the people coming by to watch the fireworks. It's possible to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. There is a traditional cake called the parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • There 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.

Traditions related to the Bonfire Night.

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

The failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament is a clear nod to this.

The majority of the time, these events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are only part of the celebration.

There are many foods associated with the event.

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

These are eaten all over the country, and some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November.

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

What are you going to wear to the events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and in preparation for the events.

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

Something to remember is that a winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here.

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

Conclusion

Every year, Bonfire Night continues to be a staple event.

It is a great time for people to celebrate and enjoy some amazing food.

Over the years, it has been one of those events that people have been impressed by.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that over the years 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 a long time.

Johnstone Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Alba / Scotland, PA5 8EG, United Kingdom

Organiser: Johnstone Bonfire Night