Day 3 of Rosalilium's blog every day in November challenge
Light
(Happy Diwali! It's the Hindu festival of lights. Whether you are Hindu or not, let's think about light.)
Today's topic is rather appropriate as Carnival season is all about light.
Traditionally Carnival processions were lit by flaming torches but by 1913 this had developed into bulbs with some of the big floats today using around 30,000 light bulbs on their entry.
One fiery tradition that survives in Carnival though is the Squibbing display which takes place about 15 minutes after the last Carnival float has passed the finish line. It only happens in Bridgwater and as far as I know, is unique as nowhere else in the world does it.
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Around 150 people (Carnival club members, local dignitaries, local businessmen and even the local MP) line the main high street through Bridgwater armed with Squibs (a large firework attached to a cosh). The crowd gathers around and on the blow of a horn, all the 'Squibbers' light their own and hold it up in the air proudly. The squib explodes with light and sparks about 10ft in the air and lasts a few minutes. One by one the squibs extinguish themselves until the very last one remains - the crowd cheers to see how long it will last and the squibber holding that cosh is awarded a prize for 'Longest Squib'.
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I have to confess though, I didn't go and watch the display last night (the pictures are from previous years). When the Carnival procession had finished it was chucking it down with rain and we couldn't really be bothered!
But this video filmed last night and already on YouTube already pretty much sums it up...
See you tomorrow for #BEDN Day 4!
Today's topic is rather appropriate as Carnival season is all about light.
Traditionally Carnival processions were lit by flaming torches but by 1913 this had developed into bulbs with some of the big floats today using around 30,000 light bulbs on their entry.
One fiery tradition that survives in Carnival though is the Squibbing display which takes place about 15 minutes after the last Carnival float has passed the finish line. It only happens in Bridgwater and as far as I know, is unique as nowhere else in the world does it.
.jpg)
Around 150 people (Carnival club members, local dignitaries, local businessmen and even the local MP) line the main high street through Bridgwater armed with Squibs (a large firework attached to a cosh). The crowd gathers around and on the blow of a horn, all the 'Squibbers' light their own and hold it up in the air proudly. The squib explodes with light and sparks about 10ft in the air and lasts a few minutes. One by one the squibs extinguish themselves until the very last one remains - the crowd cheers to see how long it will last and the squibber holding that cosh is awarded a prize for 'Longest Squib'.
.jpg)
I have to confess though, I didn't go and watch the display last night (the pictures are from previous years). When the Carnival procession had finished it was chucking it down with rain and we couldn't really be bothered!
But this video filmed last night and already on YouTube already pretty much sums it up...
See you tomorrow for #BEDN Day 4!
Wow, that's pretty cool! All these carnival posts are convincing me that I'm going to have to visit in the future! :)
ReplyDeleteJaney x
Absolutely! You're more than welcome if you fancy it one year :-) x
DeleteI love seemingly odd little traditions like this :)x
ReplyDeleteI think odd is definitely the right word! :-) x
DeleteThat sounds brilliant! Having lived in Lewes for just over three years, I know a thing or two about firework parades too :p xxx
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go and watch the Lewes Bonfire celebrations! We keep meaning to go and visit as we could fit it neatly in between Carnival evenings - one day, we'll definitely make it there :-) xxx
DeleteThe Squibbing sounds awesome and terrifying in equal measures. I'm surprised that Health & Safety hasn't snuffed it out by now.
ReplyDeleteI know, I don't know how they still get away with it really! There are a lot of policemen and firemen involved and it is all really well organised - I suppose that's why it carries on! :-) x
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