WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Festivities in Windsor Castle by Paul Sandby, c. 1776
Guy Fawkes Day
Nov 5
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Don't you Remember,
The Fifth of November,
'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day,
I let off my gun,
And made'em all run.
And Stole all their Bonfire away. "
~ Traditional, 1742
It's Bonfire Night! Time to bring out the fireworks and indulge in the traditional treat of “claggum” (or “clack”)—a sticky, black treacle confection known by many names: bonfire toffee, treacle toffee, plot toffee, or Tom Trot. This treat is perfect for enjoying around a Guy Fawkes Night bonfire dance! Though Bonfire Night has dark historical roots, it has transformed into a lively community celebration, complete with fireworks, bonfires, and often a burning effigy of the “Guy”—a figure traditionally crafted from a jacket and trousers stuffed with straw. In times past, people would parade the “Guy” through town, calling out “penny for the Guy” to raise funds for fireworks before placing the effigy atop a roaring bonfire. In honor of the night’s fiery spirit, this bonfire-inspired strathspey includes a lively moment where ladies hold their skirts and men raise their arms high as if carrying torches during a reel to meet your next partner! 🎉 🔥 🔥 🔥 🎆
Bonfire at Parliament
Also known as Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Night's history begins with the events of the 5th of November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding the explosives that the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords.
Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London. The Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
Within a few decades, Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was then known, became the predominant English state commemoration, but as it carried strong religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-Catholic sentiment. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures during raucous celebrations.
Bonfire toffee and its many variations is a hard, brittle toffee associated with both Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes Night in the United Kingdom. In Scotland, the treat is known as claggum, with less sweet versions known as clack. In Wales, it is known as loshin du or taffi triog, with a flavour similar to butterscotch!
For a classic black treacle toffee recipe, click below.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
