Royston Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Royston poster

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

What should you know about Royston's bonfire night?

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

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

You can get up to speed with the reasons behind its popularity with a 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, while also trying to blow up the parliament.

In 1605 this happened, and people have been celebrating the night ever since.

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

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

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

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

A conspiracy member got cold feet and wrote a letter to the parliament.

The other conspirators were taken into custody when 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 therefore the tradition of lighting up bonfires.

We went to the Bonfire Night because of this.

In the UK, Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed in many places.

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

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

The 20th century event looked similar to what we are seeing today.

Traditions associated with the Bonfire Night

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and his band to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

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

There are attractions during the night.

There are a lot of amazing attractions in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, as well as smaller events.

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

There are some common traditions:

  • During the Bonfire Night processions there is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders. This is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his group had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • The biggest cities in the country have the largest firework displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy" A few days before the Bonfire Night, kids used to take the homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to ask for some money for the fireworks. In some regions, 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 more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook a lot of food. A lot of people cook soup for the crowds that come by to watch the fireworks. Some people cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake people eat on Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal, and treacle in this cake.
  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a homemade model of a man and then burn it. This effigy is made out of straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes, it is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Night?

The events of bonfires and fireworks are not the only thing going on during the night.

There are a lot of foods associated with the event.

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

Some regions have their own special meals that they prepare around the 5th of November as well.

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

What should you wear to the Bonfire Night events?

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

This approach is quite interesting and is being prepared for the events.

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

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

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

At the end

Over time, Bonfire Night has become a staple event.

It is a great time for people to get together, celebrate and enjoy some great food.

Over the years, it has impressed people.

Even if the origins of the event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has evolved into 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 years and years to come.

Royston Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Garngad, Glasgow, Glasgow City, Alba / Scotland, G21 2NZ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Royston Bonfire Night