Queensferry Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Queensferry poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Queensferry?

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

So 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 by reading this quick article.

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is because of the celebration of Bonfire Night.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating bonfires 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 Fawkes were Catholics who believed in an armed struggle to restore Catholicism to its rightful place.

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the Palace of Commons.

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

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament.

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

The Parliament made a statement and shared that the conspirators were caught and punished.

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

Which eventually led to the Bonfire Night.

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

Despite the fact that the origins of the event are sinister, it has become a community-focused event over the years.

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

The event of the 20th century looked more and more like what we are seeing today.

There are attractions at Bonfire Night.

The UK has many amazing attractions and events.

Large bonfires, local events, food and drinks are shared with the community in the countryside regions.

It has become a community-focused event for a lot of people, where everyone has a great time and they enjoy the presence of other like-minded people.

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

These are some traditions that are common:

  • The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. Even in rural areas, you will find bonfires and incredible firework displays.
  • There’s also a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the Bonfire Night processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had, in an attempt to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The bonfires are used to cook all kinds of food and are not just a symbol of the failed complot. A lot of people make soup for the people watching the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional dessert that people eat on Bonfire Night. It has syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle, and it is very tasty.
  • 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. Kids blackened their faces in some regions, 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 make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made out of straw or paper, stuffed with old clothes, and is meant to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which foods are most popular during Bonfire Night?

Bonfires and fireworks are not the only things that can be celebrated at the Bonfire Night events.

There are many foods associated with this event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well, and these are eaten throughout the country.

It is important to note that some families share soups with friends or other family members.

What should you wear?

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

It is quite interesting that this is in preparation for the events.

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

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

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

There are traditions associated with Bonfire Night.

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

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

Most of the time, these Bonfire Night events end with a firework display.

At the end

Every year, Bonfire Night continues and has become a staple event.

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

The event has impressed many people over the years.

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.

Queensferry Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Queensferry Crossing, South Queensferry, West Lothian, Alba / Scotland, EH30 9YH, United Kingdom

Organiser: Queensferry Bonfire Night