Strathaven Bonfire Night 2022

Bonfire Night in Strathaven poster

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

What should you know about the Bonfire Night in Strathaven?

Over the years the Bonfire Night has been an annual event.

Why do people love these festivities so much, and what does it mean?

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

What is the tradition of the Bonfire Night?

The main reason why Guy Fawkes failed in his attempt to assassinate King James I is that he wanted to blow up the parliament.

The Bonfire Night was celebrated in 1605 and people have been celebrating ever since.

At that time there was a lot of anger against the king, since he was seen as being anti-Catholic.

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

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

The plan was to kill the king when he was in attendance.

A member of the conspiracy sent a letter to the parliament, but ended up getting cold feet.

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

The Parliament shared that the conspirators had been caught and punished.

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

Which led us to the Bonfire Night.

There are Bonfire Night activities in many places 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 by firework manufacturers to "Bonfire Night or the Fireworks Night" because the focus was on having fun.

As the 20th century progressed, the event looked more and more similar to what we are experiencing today.

Which foods are popular during celebrations?

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 some of the things associated with the Bonfire Night.

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

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

Traditions associated with the evening of bonfires.

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

It is clear 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.

The majority of the time, there is a firework display followed by a large bonfire.

What should you wear to the event?

People tend to dress up in different costumes depending on where they live.

It is quite interesting that this is being prepared for the events.

Most people like to show off their winter clothes on Bonfire Night.

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

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

There are attractions for Bonfire Night.

You're going to find a lot of amazing attractions and events in the UK.

In the countryside, you usually have large bonfires and local events, food and drinks being shared with the community, but smaller events also take place.

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

Here are some traditions that exist:

  • There is a tradition to carry flaming tar barrels on the shoulders during Bonfire Night. This is also a nod to the plans that Guy Fawkes and his team had to blow up the Parliament building.
  • "Penny for the Guy" is an interesting tradition. Kids used to take homemade Guy effigies on the street in order to ask for 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 about to blow up the Parliament.
  • There are firework displays all over the country, with the biggest cities getting some of the largest displays. You can find bonfires and firework displays all over the country, even in rural areas.
  • The bonfires are more than just a symbol of the failed complot, they are also used to cook food. People heat up soup for the crowds that come by to see the fireworks. Some cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and also marshmallows or sausages. The parking cake is a traditional cake eaten on the Bonfire Night. There is syrup, ginger, oatmeal and treacle in this cake, and it is very tasty.
  • It is very common for people in the UK to burn a homemade model of a man. The effigy is stuffed with old clothes and made out of straw or paper, which is supposed to represent Guy Fawkes.

Bottom line

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

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

Over the years it has been one of those events that have impressed people.

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

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.

Strathaven Bonfire Night Event

Date: 5th November 2022

Start Time: 6pm

Finish Time: 11pm

Address: Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, Alba / Scotland, ML10 6AG, United Kingdom

Organiser: Strathaven Bonfire Night