West Country Carnival
[2] Guy Fawkes is the character most associated with the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, however the instigator was Jesuit priest Robert Parsons from Nether Stowey,[3] a short distance from Bridgwater.
In 1580, they were discovered attempting to garner favour with northern-English based nobility in the English Mission,[4] and were then associated with the failed Spanish Armada of 1588, both plots to replace Protestant Elizabeth I of England with catholic Mary Queen of Scots.
After the execution of Campion and natural death of Emerson, Parsons continued to plot to restore Catholic power in England, and hence his last ill-fated attempt against parliament and King James VI on 5 November 1605.
[5][6] After the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, Parsons was key in corresponding with Thomas Morton over the authority of use of St Paul in the creation and implementation of the Jacobean Oath of Allegiance[clarification needed][7] Bonfire night is a major annual celebration across the whole of England, but it is likely that the reason that the West Country Carnival was originally so keenly celebrated is that the South West towns were predominantly Protestant – hence the celebration of Robert Parsons' (and Guy Fawkes') failure.
[1] Effigies or "guys" representing the gunpowder plot instigators were added to the fire by local groups of people known as gangs.
As years passed by, the tradition was continued and the annual celebration became more and more elaborate, involving costumes, and music, until the key feature of the event was a large carnival procession.
[1] The local people who dressed up and took part in the event were known as Masqueraders or Features - terms still used today to describe the parade participants.
A squib locally is a firework which is held aloft by a person known as a "squibber" on the end of a long wooden handle called a "cosh".
One hundred squibbers stand in line in Bridgwater town centre making an unusual but impressive sight for visitors who crowd the High Street.
[2] Bridgwater carnival now consists of a display of over 40 large vehicles up to 100 feet (30 m) long, festooned with dancers and up to 22,000 lightbulbs,[1] that follows a 2.5-mile (4 km) route over two to three hours.
Parking from the M5 is well sign posted and plentiful, and managed by the committee in association with Avon and Somerset Police.
After being poorly patronised for a period, the carnival concert has become a highly popular attraction in recent years, with tickets to see the event in a Bridgwater hall selling out very quickly – partly due to increased publicity, and partly as the popularity of the carnival increases.
Local Government Authorities and businesses were keen to the reschedule the event to a weekend date – presumably to make it more convenient for visitors to attend.
[13] It is hoped that as a result of the changed date many visitors will come earlier and stay longer, perhaps taking in some of the other carnivals and entertainment provided locally.
[15] The towing vehicles themselves are often decorated to match the rest of the cart and generator, and in some cases modified so that the driver is positioned low down between the two front wheels.
