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Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Day, is an annual family-friendly event that occurs on November 5th. Locals watch fireworks displays and enjoy the warmth of bonfires.
In Scotland’s capital, several Edinburgh bonfire nights are hosted on or around November 5th.
This guide details the best Edinburgh Bonfire Nights around the city to look out for next year and what you can expect if visiting for the first time.
We’ve also included an introduction to Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
Are you visiting Edinburgh during the spooky season?
Don’t miss our guide to Edinburgh in autumn and things to do for Hallowe’en.
What is Bonfire Night?
“Remember, remember the Fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.”
In 1605, a group of angry Englishmen planned to blow up the Palace of Westminster in London, targeting King James I and other influential members of Parliament.
The Gunpowder Plot failed after an anonymous letter tipped the government off, and Guy Fawkes was found guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder and a packet of long matches.
Fawkes and his co-conspirators were caught and executed on January 31st 1606.
In 1606, the Thanksgiving Act was passed, enforcing citizens to celebrate the foiled plot that saved King James, and thus, Bonfire Night was born.
Previously, a stuffed model of a man was placed on top of the fire to resemble Guy Fawkes, but today, only the fire is assembled at private and public events.
The fireworks represent the gunpowder, which was never detonated.
Bonfire Night History – Religion in the UK
Elizabeth I declared every English citizen converted to Protestantism to remove power from the Catholic faith in England.
Bishops were made to pledge allegiance to Protestantism, and citizens were fined or made to attend Sunday services.
Pope Pius V didn’t take this too kindly and excommunicated Elizabeth I.
In 1570, through a papal bull, Pope Pius V encouraged Catholics to depose their Queen, calling her “the pretended Queen of England and the servant of crime”.
The lower classes couldn’t afford to pay fines and didn’t understand the Catholic readings in Latin so many ignored the Pope’s wishes and converted without issue.
However, the upper class found Queen Elizabeth’s demand more challenging as their right to choose a religion was being taken away from them and they believed in Catholicism regardless of what royalty was trying to enforce. They became the “recusants”, the refusers.
Recusants would hide priests in their homes and, if caught by frequent searches, could face the punishment of death.
This threat, along with paying the weekly fines of not attending Protestant service, became taxing, so many moved to Flanders where they could practice without fear.
After Elizabeth I died, Scottish King James VI took the throne, making him King James I of England.
Initially, he wasn’t sure how to handle the conflict between the two religions and allowed Catholics to live normal lives where fines and house searches stopped. However, Elizabeth’s laws remained unchanged.
In 1604, King James’s parliament pressured the King to search houses and fine Catholics to stop an uprising.
The Gunpowder Plot
Some English Catholics felt let down by King James, including Robert Catesby, who was soon to become the ringleader of the Gunpowder Plot.
Catesby recruited Thomas Winter, who invited three others, including Guy Fawkes.
A London home was purchased close to The Palace of Westminster, and Fawkes became a pretend footman so he wouldn’t look out of place hanging around the area.
Fawkes went by the fake name John Johnson.
The gang began buying small amounts of gunpowder over a long period of time, but they needed somewhere to keep it.
One of the members, Thomas Percy, created a plan to rent storage space under the Palace, claiming it was for his cousin, Earl of Northumberland.
The perfect plot to blow up the Palace of Westminster was now in place.
However, the date kept getting pushed back, and members of the Gunpowder Plot grew from five to 13, which inevitably meant someone outside of the group was going to find out about the plot.
The Catholic Lord Monteagle received an anonymous letter warning him not to attend Parliament on the day of the plot and some historians think he then passed the letter to the Spy Master and Secretary of State.
He was rewarded 500 pounds per year for his loyalty.
On November 4, 1605, the Palace was searched, but nothing suspicious was found until it was identified that there were a number of rented storage spaces below the Palace.
Alas, Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding firewood.
The firewood was removed, and 36 barrels of gunpowder were revealed.
Unfortunately, Fawkes also had a box of matches on him.
Fawkes was arrested.
On 6 November, King James interviewed Fawkes to ask if he had any regrets.
He replied that his only regret was that the plan failed.
He was interrogated, and it is claimed that his reason for having so much gunpowder was “‘to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains”.
Fawkes was later tortured at the Tower of London until he provided a confession.
During this time, Robert Catesby went from town to town, telling Catholics that King James was dead and they should rise up.
Forty men followed him.
On the 8th of November, a fight with the sheriff of Warwick kicked off, and Robert Catesby was shot.
Anyone found alive was hung on the gallows alongside Guy Fawkes.
On 31st January, Fawkes was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered. Just before his execution, he broke his neck so he didn’t suffer the barbaric process.
In 1606, the Thanksgiving Act made it law that citizens must pray and give thanks that the king was not killed by the Gunpowder Plot, and thus, Bonfire Night was born.
Who Is Guy Fawkes?
Guy Fawkes was born in York, England, in 1570 to a Protestant, law-abiding, churchgoing family. His mother was from a Catholic family but gave up her faith to conform.
When Fawkes’s dad died, his mum married a Catholic man and brought the family up, attending secret masses in people’s houses.
Fawkes tried his hand at several jobs before moving to Flanders. He fought in the Eighty Years’ War in Spain.
It is thought he was given the role of keeper of the gunpowder because of his war experience.
It is often said that Fawkes was “the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions”, taken from the book by J. Sharpe.
The image of Guy Fawkes that we are familiar with today is that of dark hair, moustache and a hat.
The same image is used as the anonymous mask and features in the movie V For Vendetta, starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman.
Best Bonfire Nights in Edinburgh
Fawkes Festival at Royal Highland Centre
The Fawkes Festival has taken place at different locations around the city, including the Royal Highland Centre, which is close to Edinburgh Airport.
The event promises live music and choreographed fireworks.
Fireworks Extravaganza
Fireworks Extravaganza at George Watson’s College takes place at the rugby ground at Myreside Road.
Expect light displays with pipe bands, performing arts and more.
Check the website for the latest news.
104th North East Scouts Bonfire Night
104th North East Scouts hosts a bonfire night for family and friends.
The night includes fireworks and a bonfire, plus games.
Check the website for the latest news.
Free Bonfire Nights – Check Information Locally
If you can travel, several free Bonfire Nights are close to Edinburgh.
In Fife, Burntisland hosts sizable events with live music, food stalls and the usual bonfire and fireworks display. Donations welcome.
Tranent has a free event Polson Park, donations welcome.
Take public transport to avoid trying to find a parking space.
Private Bonfire Nights
You and your family can host your own Bonfire Night, but you must adhere to fireworks law which include:
- No fireworks after 11pm
- Only 18+ can purchase fireworks
- You have to be 16+ to buy sparklers
Bonfire Night Tips
Consider the following during your planning:
- Keep an eye on the weather; if it rains heavily most events are cancelled
- Wrap up warm; there can be a lot of waiting
- Take public transport; parking can be a nightmare
- Arrive early and leave early to avoid crowds
- Arrange a meeting point in case anyone gets lost
- Be careful around sparklers