Leith Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Leith poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Leith?

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

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.

Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?

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

People have been celebrating the Bonfire Night since 1605.

There was a lot of anger against the king due to the fact that he was against Catholics.

Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes were both Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to bring Catholicism back to it's rightful place.

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

The plan was to kill the king because he was there.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament but was cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared the news that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

We traveled to the Bonfire Night.

There are lots of Bonfire Night activities in the UK today.

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

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

The 20th century event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

What should you wear?

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

In preparation for the events, this is quite an interesting approach.

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

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

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

Bonfire Night attractions

You are going to find a lot of great attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, although smaller events also take place.

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

There are some traditions that are common:

  • Some of the largest firework displays can be found in the biggest cities. You are bound to find firework displays and bonfires all over the country.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is one of the more interesting traditions. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before Bonfire Night. In some parts of the world you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was preparing to blow up the Parliament.
  • The bonfires are not meant just to be 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 wrapped in foil with marshmallows or sausages as well. The parking cake is a traditional cake that is eaten on the Bonfire Night. This cake is made of syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, very similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed into old clothes.
  • The tradition is to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in order to blow up the Parliament building.

The Bonfire Night is associated with traditions.

People use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers when they parade in costumes at 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, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display and a large bonfire.

Which foods are popular during Bonfire Night celebrations?

The bonfire Night events are more than just a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are lots of foods associated with this event.

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 have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November.

Some families share soups with friends or other family members, which is important to note.

At the end

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

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

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

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it became 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.

Leith Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Leith, City of Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom

Organiser: Leith Bonfire Night