AllWays Traveller Features
Bridgwater Carnival : when seeing is the only way to believe
There are some festivals and events that just have to be seen to be believed.
Bridgwater Carnival the UK county of Somerset is one of these.
The word carnival may lead ones thinking towards Rio, Venice, Trinidad and Tobago or New Orleans.
But while these are indeed tremendous, the carnivals of Somerset, sits on a par - believe me.
On the other hand, don't believe me. If you are ever in the UK during early November see for yourself.
Images by Peter J Nicholls Bridgwater : www.peterjnicholls.co.uk
The roots of carnival
The roots of the carnival stem from 1605 and the thwarting of Guy Fawkes attempt to 'blow up' the British Houses of Parliament with a cellar full of gunpowder kegs.
But while Fawkes gets top billing and notoriety for this madcap attempt at anarchy, the true instigator was one Robert Parsons, a Jesuit priest living near to the historic river port of Bridgwater.
Too good an opportunity to miss
King James I and his Parliament decreed that the Gunpowder Plot should be commemorated annually with the lighting of bonfires.
The country took to the streets in a joyful (and largely alcohol fueled) celebration that included burning effigies of Fawkes on large bonfires.
The chance to drink to the survival of democracy was too good to miss and has developed into the firework displays and parties now enjoyed throughout the country on or around 'bonfire night' (5 November).
A more patriotic place
In Bridgwater, a more patriotic (drunken) place than most, the citizens were reluctant to forgo an officially sanctioned opportunity for revelry. And so the townsfolk continued to make their bonfire the focal point for a night of high spirited jinks.
The blaze and squibbing
The blaze itself consumed dozens of tar barrels, the occasional small boat from the river bank and anything else deemed suitable for burning.
The 'guys' were tossed aloft by local gangs after the straw filled 'victims' had been paraded through the streets (and from alehouse to alehouse).
While all this was going on some braver (or foolhardy) souls would let off home made and highly explosive 'squibs', which were strapped to long hand held poles called 'coshes'.
Groups of masqueraders
As the years passed, the gangs, or 'groups of masqueraders' as they had became known, began to dress in themed costumes.
They then took to being carried through the streets on horse drawn, decorated carts or floats.
Finally the carts were organised into a set route procession, judging was introduced and the 'carnival' would weave its way through cheering crowds, which is the basis for the carnival that continues to this day.
While the bonfire itself was abandoned in 1925, due to safety concerns, the Bridgwater Carnival went from strength to strength to become one of the most spectacular events of its kind in the world.
The passion for carnival in Bridgwater remains undiminished whatever the economic climate. And needless to say, the town's pubs do a roaring trade throughtout Carnival night.
The squibbing
Following the procession itself, there is a mass squibbing display along the length of the town's High Street.
The facts
Bridgwater Carnival is the world's largest illuminated carnival.
The parade regularly attracts crowds of over 150,000.
The procession will be made up of 60 plus mounted entries, which take a full year to plan, design and be built by members of the respective carnival clubs.
The big floats
In any carnival procession the 40 or so 'big' floats will be awesome affairs with every inch of their overall 30 metre length filled with models, moving parts and costumed members.
They will be lit by upwards of 20,000 light bulbs and enhanced by appropriate musical accompaniment.
Real power
The generators towed behind the floats can provide over a megawatt of power, and will be used to power the lighting, music and moving parts.
Popular themes
Popular themes for the floats are those that most effectively combine colour, costume, music and stunning construction.
These often include the circus, pirates, ghosts and vampires and themes based on toys or cartoon characters.
Scenes from mythology, the American west or from space and science fiction are also popular as are floats representing Asian, eastern and Latin cultures.
Dates for your diary
The Bridgwater Carnival procession is currently held annually on the Saturday nearest 5 November and is the first in a series of a seven procession circuit in the Somerset area.
Bridgwater Carnival : www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk
Somerset Guy Fawkes Carnivals : www.guyfawkescarnivals.co.uk
North Petherton Carnival : www.northpethertoncarnival.co.uk
Shepton Mallet Carnival : www.sheptonmalletcarnival.org.uk
Glastonbury Carnival : wwww.glastonburycarnival.co.uk
Weston-super-Mare Carnival : www.northsomersetcarnival.co.uk
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