Stewarton Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Stewarton poster

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

What should you know about Stewarton's bonfire night?

The Bonfire Night has been an annual event for a long time.

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 the amazing popularity of the Bonfire Night by reading this quick list.

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, as well as the attempt to blow up the parliament.

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

At that time, there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was thought to be against the Catholics.

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

Two people came up with a plan to blow up the palace.

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

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

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

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

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

Which eventually led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in the UK nowadays.

Over the years, Bonfire Night has become a community focused event despite the fact that it is sinister in nature.

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

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked a lot like what we are experiencing today.

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You're 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 shared with the community.

It 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 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.

Common traditions are here:

  • In the UK, it is very common for people to make a model of a man and then burn it. The effigy is usually made from straw or paper and stuffed with old clothes.
  • The tradition is called "Penny for the Guy". Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street to ask for money for fireworks a few days before 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 biggest cities in the country get some of the largest displays. There are bonfires and incredible firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • There is a tradition of carrying flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during the processions. Again, this is a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the parliament building.
  • The bonfires are not only meant to be a symbol of the failed complot, but they are also used to cook all kinds of food. Many people heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some people 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. This cake is made with syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle.

Traditions associated with the night of the bonfire.

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

It is obvious that this is a nod to the failure of Guy Fawkes and his band as they tried to blow up the Parliament, a celebration of independence, but in a safe manner.

Most of the time, these events end with a large bonfire and firework display.

What are you going to wear for the events?

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

This is in preparation for the events, and it is quite interesting.

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

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

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

Which foods are common during Bonfire Night celebrations?

As we mentioned earlier, the Bonfire Night events are not only a celebration with bonfires and fireworks.

There are many different foods associated with this event.

The jacket potato, parkin, black peas, treacle toffee, and the toffee apples are all related to the Bonfire Night.

These are eaten throughout the country and some regions have their own special meals prepared around the 5th of November as well.

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

At the end

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

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

One of the things that have impressed people over the years is the event.

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

Stewarton Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Stewarton, Argyll and Bute, Alba / Scotland, PA28 6PQ, United Kingdom

Organiser: Stewarton Bonfire Night