Linlithgow Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Linlithgow poster

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

What information is important to know about Linlithgow's Bonfire Night?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event.

Why do people enjoy these festivities so much?

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

What is the Bonfire Night connected to?

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.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and has been celebrated ever since.

What happened at that time is that there was a lot of anger against the king, since many considered he was intolerant against the Catholics.

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

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

The plan was to assassinate the king during the process.

However, a 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 fact that the conspirators were caught and punished was shared by the Parliament.

Also, the Parliament chose to declare the 5th of November as a day to be thankful for, and hence the tradition to light up bonfires.

Which eventually lead us to the Bonfire Night.

In locations like West Lothian, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that its origins are sinister in nature.

The celebration was renamed to Fireworks Night at the beginning of the 20th century due to the fact that it was focused on having fun.

The event looked similar as the 20th century progressed.

There are traditions associated with the night.

People wear costumes and use flaming torches, fireworks and sparklers during Bonfire Night.

This is a clear nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe way.

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events are culminating with a firework display and a very large bonfire.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing attractions 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 event where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

Some traditions are common:

  • The country's biggest cities get some of the largest firework displays. Even in rural areas you are bound to find firework displays and bonfires.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food, even if they are just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil, but also marshmallows or sausages. There is a parking cake that people eat on Bonfire Night. The cake has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for the fireworks. In some parts of the world, you can find kids blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes did when he was about to blow up the Parliament.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn an effigy, a homemade model of a man, similar to a scarecrow. The effigy is usually made out of paper and straw and stuffed with old clothes.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

It is an interesting approach to prepare for the events.

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

A winter knit with a classical touch is usually the right way to go here and something to keep in mind.

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

Which are the most popular foods during Bonfire Night?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and the toffee apples 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 share soups with friends or other family members, which is important to note.

Bottom line

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

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

It is one of the events that have impressed people in the past.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that 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 go on for many years to come.

Linlithgow Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Linlithgow, West Lothian, Alba / Scotland, EH49 7EY, United Kingdom

Organiser: Linlithgow Bonfire Night