Selkirk Bonfire Night 2022

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Selkirk?

Over the years, the Bonfire Night has become an annual event, one of the incredible festivities and celebrations.

Why do people love these events so much?

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

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 and also blow up the parliament in the UK.

This happened in 1605 and people have been celebrating the night 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.

The two supporters came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

The plan was for the king to be assassinated during the process.

A conspiracy member sent a letter to the parliament after getting cold feet.

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

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

The Parliament decided to light up bonfires on the 5th of November because it was a day to be thankful.

We went to the Bonfire Night due to that.

Nowadays Bonfire Night activities are enjoyed all over 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 its focus on having fun.

The event looked similar to what we are experiencing today as the 20th century progressed.

Traditions associated with the night of bonfires.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of the band that tried to blow up the Parliament as a celebration of independence.

Most of the time, the events of Bonfire Night include a firework display and a large bonfire.

There are attractions during the night.

You are going to find a lot of amazing things to do in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but there are also 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 enjoy some great firework displays, with some regions going out of their way to use incredible firework displays for a night to remember.

Common traditions are here:

• It is common for people in the UK to make a model of a man and burn it. This effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.
• There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Nights. This is a nod to the plans that Guy and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
• "Penny for the Guy" is another interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street, trying to get some money for fireworks, a few days before the Bonfire Night. In some regions, you can find kids that blackened their faces, a testament to what Guy Fawkes tried to do when he was planning to blow up the Parliament.
• The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook food. Crowds come by to see the fireworks and a lot of people heat up soup for them. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake that people eat on the night of Bonfire Night. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.
• The biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. But in general you are bound to find bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.

What should you wear on Bonfire Night?

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

This is in preparation for the events.

With that being said, the Bonfire Night is a great opportunity for most people to show off their winter wardrobe.

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

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

Which foods are popular at Bonfire Nights?

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

There are a lot of foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee and 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 as well.

Some families share their soups with their friends or family members.

In the end

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a staple event, and continues every year.

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

People have been impressed by it over the years.

Even if the origins of this event are a bit darker, there is no denying that it has become a more community-friendly event.

Happiness and a good time are the most important parts of Bonfire Night, and we can expect this event to continue for many years to come!

Selkirk Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Alba / Scotland, TD7 4BT, United Kingdom

Organiser: Selkirk Bonfire Night