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43-559: The West Country Carnival Circuits are an annual celebration featuring a parade of illuminated carts in the English West Country . The celebration dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The purpose is to raise money for local charities . The series of parades in each town now form a major regional festival. Some carts cost in excess of £40,000 to build and are the result of thousands of hours work throughout

86-484: A detonator running through the length of its core, similar to a stick of dynamite. Also similar to dynamite, the detonator can be a slow-burning fuse , or as is more common today, a wire connected to a remote electronic trigger . Squibs range in size from ~2 to 15 mm (0.08 to 0.6 in) in diameter. In the film industry, the term squib often refers to electric matches and detonators used to trigger larger pyrotechnics. They are generally (but not always)

129-594: A display of over 40 large vehicles up to 100 feet (30 m) long, festooned with dancers and up to 22,000 lightbulbs, that follows a 2.5-mile (4 km) route over two to three hours. 2005 included the Masquerade 2000 entrants from Notting Hill Carnival . Bridgwater now attracts around 150,000 people from around the West Country, UK and globally. Parking from the M5 is well sign posted and plentiful, and managed by

172-477: 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. The Bridgwater carnival had traditionally been held on Bonfire night , or 5 November. This was then formalised in 1919 after the First World War, as

215-672: 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. Originally the squibs were made specially for the carnival and were known as the Bridgwater Squib, and culminated with a large bang as each squib extinguished. With modern Health and Safety concerns it has become difficult to purchase such squibs, and owing to

258-414: A plug of insulating material; a small bridge wire or electrical resistance heater; and a bead of heat-sensitive chemical composition, in which the bridge wire is embedded. They can be used to generate mechanical force to shatter or propel various materials; and for pyrotechnic effects for film and live theatrics . A squib generally consists of a small tube filled with an explosive substance, with

301-494: A realistic and convincing visual effect for movies, TV shows, and stage performances. Squibs are used in emergency mechanisms where gas pressure needs to be generated quickly in confined spaces, while not harming any surrounding persons or mechanical parts. In this form, squibs may be called gas generators . Two such mechanisms are the inflation of automobile air bags and seat belt pretensioners which sometimes use pyrotechnic devices. Pyro fuses are also used to disconnect

344-496: Is 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) long with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, among them more than 100 bands and around 70 floats and carriages. Squib (explosive) A squib is a miniature explosive device used in a wide range of industries, from special effects to military applications. It resembles a tiny stick of dynamite , both in appearance and construction, but has considerably less explosive power. A squib consists of two electrical leads separated by

387-536: Is often involved. All work is carried out in the spare time of the club members on a voluntary basis – often working all night in the final few days to get carts ready. http://www.cispp.org.uk/ Parade The term "parade" may also be used for multiple different subjects; for example, in the Canadian Armed Forces , "parade" is used both to describe the procession and in other informal connotations. Protest demonstrations can also take

430-613: Is the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association Circuit which starts at Bridgwater, with many of the carts will appear in all of the carnivals. Prizes are awarded in several categories for the best carts in each carnival. The four circuits are: There is one unofficial carnival in the circuit, held at Midsomer Norton . There is also a series of individual carnivals not part of any circuit, including Blandford Forum , Melksham , South Brent , South Petherton . In 2020, all

473-786: The Protestant monarchy and parliament of the day, in order to put an end to Catholic persecution. In 1580, they were discovered attempting to garner favour with northern-English based nobility in the English Mission, 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. After

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516-622: The American western , River of No Return , filmed in 1953 and released in 1954, used a blood squib to simulate realistic bullet impact in the story's climax, when the story's antagonist is shot dead . As such, this film precedes Run of the Arrow (1957) – often credited with being the first to use blood squibs – by three years, and Pokolenie by one. While most modern squibs used by professionals are insulated from moisture, older uninsulated squibs needed to be kept dry in order to ignite, thus

559-705: The Armies in Washington, D.C. They passed before the President, the Cabinet, and senior officers from May 23–24, 1865. At the end of hostilities in Europe in 1944–45, "victory parades" were a common feature throughout the recently liberated territories. For example, on 3 September 1944, the personnel of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division marched six abreast to the music of massed regimental pipe and drum bands through

602-550: The Carnival in Somerset Promotion Project £41,000 to promote and conserve carnival heritage. The project aims to raise awareness of the history of the carnivals within schools and the local community. The carnival concert takes place in the weeks leading up to the carnival. At these concerts, carnival clubs perform on stage wearing their costumes and using pieces of scenery. After being poorly patronised for

645-592: The Second World War, but a local carnival enthusiast William Henry Edwin Lockyer also known as "Nosey" walked the carnival route for six years with a group known as The Kilties, to keep the tradition alive. In 2020 and 2021, the procession featuring carts was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic , to replace the 2020 Bridgwater procession a live stream was held on carnival night showing some of

688-667: The United Kingdom, where they are often associated with Royal occasions. Similarly, for ships, there may be a sail-past of, e.g., tall ships (as was seen during Trafalgar 200 ) or other sailing vessels as during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of World War II . The longest parade in the world is the Hanover Schützenfest that takes place in Hanover every year during the Schützenfest . The parade

731-462: The best carnival carts over the years. In 2021, smaller Masquerade parades were put on in Bridgwater and Burnhum-On-Sea , which featured most of the clubs in the previous years carnivals, enter with walking entries on a smaller route. In addition to the carnival procession, the tradition of "squibbing" still occurs after the procession ends. A squib locally is a firework which is held aloft by

774-415: The bonfire. 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. 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. There were no parades during

817-526: The carnival circuits were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Uniquely in the West Country, the vehicles are called carts, unlike other carnivals where the term carnival float is used. The term cart is still used today to describe the large and elaborate trailers used in the procession. Carts are built by local clubs of individuals funded totally by charitable donations and sponsorship from local businesses. Carts are always themed, with no restriction on

860-474: The carnival circuits were formed to be held on the first Thursday of November – Thursday was traditionally early closing day for shops in Bridgwater. 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. This met strong resistance from many locals who believe the tradition of so many years should be maintained, and from others who are concerned that

903-399: The carnival season are wholly distributed by the club charity. Some carts cost in excess of £20,000 to build and are the result of thousands of man-hours work throughout the year. Most clubs are based around local working or social circles, such as pubs and clubs. Many clubs have specialist Juvenile Carnival clubs (JCC) for the under 16s. To join an adult 16 and over club, an initiation ceremony

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946-400: The carts. Some generators used can provide over one  megawatt of power, with 10,000 to 30,000 lamps not uncommon on a modern-day cart. 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. This allows for a higher degree of decoration without obscuring

989-460: The celebration of Robert Parsons' (and Guy Fawkes') failure. The religious origins of the event are almost forgotten and far less significant today. The original Bridgwater celebrations consisted of a large bonfire at the Cornhill. Built out of a large wooden boat, around one hundred tar barrels were added, together with just about anything else available which could be burned. This tradition

1032-478: The committee in association with Avon and Somerset Police . Public access grandstands were introduced in the mid-1990s, which have increased in popularity over recent years. The carnival's purpose is to raise money for local charities from money collection carts in the procession. Between 2003 and 2007, around £115,000 was raised at Bridgwater Carnival. In 2010, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded

1075-708: The driver's view. The length of the entire cart is often built to the maximum allowable of 100 feet (30 m). These carts are interspersed with walking exhibits known as masqueraders, either groups or singles, occasional marching bands or majorette troupes, and charity collectors who take donations from the spectators. Carts or floats are built by local clubs (CC), which as local charities themselves are aimed specifically and solely at raising funds for other charities which operate within their locality. Clubs generate all funds required to build and operate their carts totally by charitable donations from individuals and sponsorship from local businesses — all funds raised during

1118-709: 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 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

1161-558: The first Saturday in November. 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. The Bridgwater carnival was the first carnival of its type, however other carnival processions within the South West began some years ago. They start in late August and continue until late November. The oldest and largest circuit

1204-621: The first floats were decorated barges that were towed along the canals with ropes held by parade marchers on the shore . Floats were occasionally propelled from within by concealed oarsmen , but the practice was abandoned because of the high incidence of drowning when the lightweight and unstable frames capsized. Strikingly, among the first uses of grounded floats – towed by horses – was a ceremony in memory of recently drowned parade oarsmen. Today, parade floats are traditionally pulled by motor vehicles or are powered themselves. Multiple grand marshals may often be designated for an iteration of

1247-485: The form of a parade, but such cases are usually referred to as a march instead. The first parades date back to c.  2000 BC , only being used for religious or military purposes. The Babylonians celebrated Akitu by parading their deities and performing rituals. To celebrate the federal government's victory in the American Civil War , 145,000 Union soldiers marched in a two-day Grand Review of

1290-508: The local economic business need, the Bridgwater Carnival Committee decided, not without much controversy, to move the carnival to a Friday with effect from 2001. This was part of a strategy to keep the carnival alive in the long term, with the committee working with Sedgemoor District Council to provide entertainment for visitors from mid-day on carnival day. The dates will change again from 2012, with Bridgwater on

1333-408: The main explosive element in an effect, and are often used in special effects to simulate bullet impacts on inanimate objects or actors. Fake blood packets are typically coupled with squibs and attached to the stage clothes worn by actors, referred to as dead-character costumes , that burst through pre-made "bullet" holes to simulate the appearance of a person being shot and wounded. This creates

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1376-428: The new timing could affect the ability of clubs to participate in other local carnival processions – North Petherton carnival has traditionally taken place on the following Saturday. The new timing would also spoil another local tradition known as Black Friday, when locals celebrate their hard work on carnival in an alcoholic manner. However, accepting that shops and work times in the present have changed greatly and

1419-563: The parade, and may or may not be in actual attendance due to circumstances (including death). A community grand marshal or other designations may be selected alongside a grand marshal to lead the front or other parts of the parade. Since the advent of such technology, it became possible for aircraft and boats to parade. A flypast is an aerial parade of anything from one to dozens of aircraft, both in commercial context at airshows and also to mark important dates, such as national days or significant anniversaries. They are particularly common in

1462-471: The rising cost of insurance the present-day squibs have no bang. Lines of flammable liquid are also run along the ground by the squibbers and lit to add to the spectacle. Visitors often think the whole sight looks a little dangerous, but the event is well organised and nobody has been hurt to date. The Bridgwater carnival first modernised in 1881 and was originally lit by lamps; electric lights were first introduced in 1913. Bridgwater carnival now consists of

1505-511: The shaft of a feather , and filled with fine black powder . They were then sealed at the ends with wax. They were sometimes used to ignite the main propellant charge in a cannon . Squibs were once used in coal mining to break coal away from rock . In the 1870s, some versions of the device were patented and mass-produced as "Miners' Safety Squibs". Squibs are mentioned in the prominent tort case from eighteenth-century England, Scott v. Shepherd , 96 Eng. Rep. 525 (K.B. 1773). A lit squib

1548-777: The streets of Dieppe , France, to commemorate the liberation of the city from German occupation, as well as commemorate the loss of over 900 soldiers from that formation during the Dieppe Raid two years earlier. On the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 held in Moscow , Soviet Union in June 1945, the Red Army commemorated Victory in Europe with a parade and the ceremonial destruction of captured Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS standards. The parade float got its name because

1591-399: The theme from the organising committee. Regularly chosen themes include: Carts include both music and costumed people to complete their theme. People and items on the cart can either be moving or static in tableau . Today these carts are driven by farm tractors or trucks, and usually also tow a large diesel-driven electricity generator to provide the huge amount of power required to power

1634-528: The vehicle's power circuit. The pyro fuse is installed on the positive terminal of the battery and receives a signal from the vehicle's control unit in the event of an accident. During an accident, the pyrotechnic charge in the pyrofuse is triggered, which uses a piston to break the power circuit and de-energize the vehicle's battery. In 2003, the European Commission adopted Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles (ELV Directive). This measure

1677-643: The year. The timing of the West Country Carnival close to the British celebration of Bonfire Night on 5 November is no coincidence, as the roots of the original carnival in Bridgwater date back to 1605. 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 , a short distance from Bridgwater. Parsons and his colleagues Edmund Campion and Ralph Emerson were Catholics , who wanted to put an end to

1720-401: Was in the 1943 US war film Bataan . Other early films using squibs include the 1955 Polish film Pokolenie by Andrzej Wajda , where for the first time audiences were presented with a realistic representation of a bullet impacting on an on-camera human being, complete with blood spatter. The creator of the effect, Kazimierz Kutz , used a condom with fake blood and dynamite. However,

1763-637: Was introduced to prevent potential fires that may occur due to battery damage during an accident. Battery pyro-fuses ensure instant power disconnection, minimizing the risk of short circuits and fires In military aircraft , squibs are used to deploy countermeasures and are also implemented during ejection to propel the canopy and ejection seat away from a crippled aircraft. They are also used to deploy parachutes . Squibs are also used in automatic fire extinguishers , to pierce seals that retain liquids such as halon , fluorocarbon , or liquid nitrogen . Squibs were originally made from parchment tubes, or

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1806-399: Was stopped due to lack of old wooden boats to burn, and because a number of good boats were thrown onto the fire and burnt by over-enthusiastic revellers. Effigies or "guys" representing the gunpowder plot instigators were added to the fire by local groups of people known as gangs . It would seem it was these gangs who started the trend towards a procession, as they paraded their guys towards

1849-427: Was thrown into a crowded market by Shepherd and landed on the table of a gingerbread merchant. A bystander, to protect himself and the gingerbread, threw the squib across the market, where it landed in the goods of another merchant. The merchant grabbed the squib and tossed it away, accidentally hitting a man in the face, putting out one of his eyes. The first documented use of squibs to simulate bullet impacts in cinema

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