The town where holding fireworks over your head is a tradition
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Bridgwater Carnival, in Somerset, has a long tradition of squibbing: a huge procession of people holding fireworks right above their heads. This year, I got the chance to be one of the squibbers. Thanks to all the Bridgwater Carnival team: their site is www.bridgwater...
Camera: Dave Mackie and Nyles Hollister
Edited by Michelle Martin: / @onthecrux
(Thanks to the person who first emailed me about this: the reply-to address on your email is broken, so I've never been able to get in touch to say thanks, and don't want to name you here without permission. It was a great idea!)
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The main Carnival was replaced this year with just a small walking parade from the carnival clubs, as it wasn't clear whether Covid restrictions would allow anything to happen. Normally it's dozens of enormous floats, on the scale of one of the big New Orleans Mardi Gras parades, and hopefully that'll be back next year!
Ok
Hola amigo
How was this posted nine days ago? Am I high? Is there a glitch in the Universe?
That's insane
Check out a place called Berga in Spain and their festival called La Patum
When I read "holding fireworks over your head," I hadn't imagined "bathe an entire street in sparks and smoke". That PPE is even more essential than I'd thought...
These insane English traditions are great.
Right, I'm also thinking of those spectators won't they be caught up with those sparks as well?
@@hafreeze13 Yes, that's the point
I couldn't help thinking that someone should have told Tom to take off his hoodie, or at least tucked the hood _inside_ his overalls. It might have gotten very unpleasant if it caught some sparks.
And we need more things, like protection for the neck, so nothing falls in, when we from a FD light similar things at our Castle to the ending fireworks display of our yearly fair. But there also are fireworks that shoot in the air...
"This isn't going to be a normal video."
Tom "Danger" Scott
Tom “significant chance of personal injury” Scott
@@Morningstar_37 this version fits in a lot better
I feel like he's said that so much recently he's turning into Ms. Frizzle.
TJ ""Henry"" Scott
Aka mad capn tom
I’m only now thinking about how many crazy memories Tom is going to have to look back on when he’s old. This guy sure does a lot of stuff.
Imagine him with grandkids in the big room showing off hours of his RUclips videos.
@@LadyAnuB I always liked the idea that they'd find the videos naturally, and realise grandad was cool as hell back in the day and had never mentioned it.
Anyone ask him why no masks while scruibbin lmao
I feel like doing so many crazy things you start to question if you did things you never did. "I think I did that?'
He's trying to 100% the game
What an interesting tradition... I'm a Brit and I had no idea this was even a thing! You really are living one amazing life, Tom! I mean, holding fireworks above your head, hitting rocks with hammers which have explosives attached to the heads, being driven in a racing car around a track that doubles as a public road, controlling one of London's major bridges, diving in a gondola to the ocean floor, visiting a volcano... the list goes on and on. And all the while you've shown the utmost respect to the people you meet along the way and their ways of life or their traditions, and informed us of things we never would have known about otherwise.
- Learning how to ride a bike by Mike Boyd...
I like 15mins from Bridgwater so I have watched this a few times, didn't realise it was so strange
most of these processions happen in seaside towns
@@3bkbkb3 Bridgwater ain't a seaside town fam
@@freddielinham6751 it's close enough
I’m glad Tom does videos like this because this is the stuff the traveler in me wants to go see in person but I also know that mindset is what kills traditions by overcrowding. I get to see it without being in the way of it.
Right!? Like youre an observer
@Stella Hoenheim oh go back to 8chan
@Stella Hoenheim back to twitter you go
@@ng.tr.s.p.1254 what did it say?
It’s happened to a lot of British culture now people say we don’t have any smh
Tom going from nervous and scared to smiling and cheering was a great character arc
underrated
@@topazprism77 How is that underrated? The video hasn't even been out for an hour. Get real.
@@dwinters6291 underrated
Classic hero's journey.
You see this in a *lot* of Toms videos, in my opinion the humble nature of it is what makes him such a great likeable character.
You won me over at “significant chance of personal injury”
Fireworks are a great way to introduce children to risk and safety.
@@eturnerx In the best possible way!
@@JohnDoe-on8gl even better!
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?"
- Gimli (LotR)
Where was that on the learning to ride a bike.
Yep, you don´t want to be too public with your traditions. A tradition in most of southern Germany is that you put up a "Maibaum" in May. Most cities and villages have moved to using heavy machinery to put it into place, but my village still does it by hand. "Outsiders" saw it and reported it to a governmental board who wanted to ban it, but in the end our Major told them "No."
Imagine being so up yourself that you would report a tradition like that to the government. Some people just hate everyone and want everyone to live a dull life.
Whats a Maibaum?
@@Moald A German Maypole.
@@VestigialHead oh
@@VestigialHead new question... What the heck is a maypole? And does it have any relation to a tadpole? XD
I live in the South West of England, where the Carnival comes every year. Growing up I just had it as a normal thing and had no idea how unique it was until relatively recently. It’s really cool.
Proof Tom Scott will literally never run out of content
Humanity is weird, and Tom shall see it all.
True true
Thank god for that
"Hello I'm here at the heat death of the universe, where the last particle is set to decay any moment"
@@businessisboomin7252 The human brain is the only thing in the universe that can quote itself
Tom Scott:
Holding gunpowder and flaming metal dust two feet above his head.
Tom Scott Plus:
Learning to bicycle.
PS - I'm loving this dichotomy.
Tom Scott is the hero we need but don't deserve. Truly watchable content.
The duality of educational content
Tom Scott:
Learning to fly jetpack.
Tom Scott Plus:
Learning to ride bicycle.
@@ogureckgreen Technical Difficulties: Drives Zamboni 5 meters
Tom Scott, thank you so much for your subtitling. It is incredible that you are somehow one of the only RUclipsrs I know who would put so much effort as to italicize and even color the captions to make it easier for Hard-Of-Hearing and Deaf people. Truly amazing, and thank you for your compassion
It is great for foreigners too :)
I was pleasantly surprised with the formatting of the subtitles.
What?
@@jrob8931 enable captions dude
@@dauf69 Me too, I never knew how versatile these captions could be until Tom showed it
The unadulterated joy and excitement, and slight fear, on Tom's face as the fireworks started all around him were the absolute best part of this video.
This is so exciting! Bridgwater is my home town. Carnival is well-worth attending if you haven’t been before.
Tom going from "is this for real?" mode to "it's actually fun" mode is a lovely sight to see.
Living in America I am like "a pound of fireworks is special to you people?"
I've done that.
But I used a string instead of a broom and span it to keep the fire pointed away.
@@ishner yes but also here in America politics are 2 old men yelling at each other and people would kill each other over it
That finale was breathtaking 😀
You're breathtaking!
@@melio0504 yes
I was in awe
@@melio0504 i wanted to say that :(
Indeed, lungs full of everything expect for Oxygen.
The more I learn about weird things from Tom, the more I’ve started to like this world
These truly are amazing places.
@Sir John Bull yikes.
Who let you outside
Wow! I'm shocked, this is surprisingly similar to the "correfocs" we do in Catalonia, Spain. It's a tradition that's even done in a city as big as Barcelona, where people will dress up as devils with non-flamable costumes and place fireworks on sticks they carry, as if they were coming out of the tip of their tridents, while they march down through the city streets. There's even huge dragon props carried by some of the people attending that also spit fireworks, and the rest of the year they're kept in a museum at the city centre. I haven't gone to one since I was a kid, but this video just made me remember them and I realized how absolutely nuts the concept actually is.
Yes, we have the same thing in French Catalonia too
I had the joy of experiencing that this year during the "Cabalgata del Fuego" in Valencia, during Las Fallas. Truly a sight to behold!
I live in bridgwater so it was really nice to be sat in my car and see this in my recommended. Thanks Tom
I think the best part of this was Dave being very realistic and responsible with how the tradition has had to change in the modern world. So many times, you see people who get angry and dig in their heels at the idea of traditions changing, rather than enthusiastically figuring out how to adapt them to keep them alive.
"There was a serious problem, and this obviously has to be addressed, so how can we address the problem enough that it is unlikely to be an issue again in the future while still hanging on to the core of the event?" seems like a very good mindset for cultural events.
Traditions are meaningless if they're not meant to get a bit updated.
It's usually anonymous people on social media who get angry, not the people actually involved.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 what you just said has no basis in reality.
@@ThreadBomb There are a couple replies already to prove you right...
I've often heard the term 'a rain of fire'. I never quite managed to properly visualize it. And here's Tom Scott not just illustrating it, but *standing in the middle of it with half a kilo of explosives over his head!*
Technically, gunpowder is a "low explosive". It only goes bang when confined in a container.
@@BritishBeachcomber I understand what you mean, but "low explosive" doesn't exactly sound the most reassuring.
Having been to a full Bridgewater carnival in 2019, the squibbing is an amazing finale, but the actual carnival itself is absolute wonderland of an event. The whole carnival with the clubs behind it is worthy of a whole video in itself.
We love you Tom. Thank you for all the hard work you do to make us all feel included, smart, educated and a part of something bigger.
You are a treasure to humans and our history.
In Catalonia we have a similar tradition called "els diables" where experienced people wearing safe costumes of the evil dance with rotatory fireworks. The best part is that anyone can ask for dancing with "els diables" without wearing that safe equipment and from the above of the firework you can see like a fire fountain.
Really cool seeing festivals like this, communities getting along, even if only for festivities, is something really valuable, considering.
yh, shame bridgwater is the butt of many jokes in Somerset.
@@_ikako_ I mean, it's fair given usually at least 1 person is stabbed at ther carnival each year
you're totally, totally perfect
@@HexQuesTT you get crime at every major national event to be fair
@@HexQuesTT maybe that's part of the tradition/festival as well
"These towns have to deal with too many tourist". So this is just a secret between you, me and 4.73M subscribers! 🙂
@@ragnkja My memory is long! 😆
@@RandomBlueSheet There are lots of traditions like this in the southwest. see: The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
Bridgewater Carnival isn't like most of the smaller town traditons, they want people to come, more the merrier.
@@almostanengineer The town signs say ‘Welcome to Bridgewater, the home of carnival’. They don’t keep it quiet.
exactly. 10000% perfect
I was in awe at the end. mouth agape and everything.
also, I just love how respectful of people you are. I'll try to follow in your way. It really is amazing to watch you explore the world and be so kind and considerate to those you run into, to the traditions/things/people you document, and to the communities you're visiting.
Our world would be a better place if the media showed that most humans are good people.
I live in Bridgwater and the Carnival is one of the most spectacular events of the year. Thanks for showing it off Tom!
this is the most underrated tom scott video
This is it. This is what you get to do when you've been working your keister off for 15 years to bring entertainment to the world. You get to make that face at 5:13. Enjoy it Tom, you've earned it!
Externally, he's like a mix of :O and :D, internally I bet his brain's just repeating the British equivalent of "HOLY FUCKSTICK THIS IS INCREDIBLE"
In my town and I missed you, noooooo!!! So glad to see a video about my town though, amazing video Tom!!
Yo I live in Taunton and was in Bridgwater yesterday, I'm having the exact same feelings!
@@_ikako_ Makes two of us, what a small world!
@@Jordanchannel01 were you a huish kid or a SCAT kid?
Having the same feeling! I moved away for uni and then Tom shows up in bridgwater!!
@@_ikako_ ahhh I was a Bridgwater (And Taunton as it's now called) college kid, didn't get into the Huish/Scat rivalry 😉😂
Looked like Tom was in a industrial factory with all those metal sparks hitting the floor, looked fun!
Watching a hug iron melt casting is great firework.
reminds me of those old soviet propaganda videos
I was thinking more like he's a wizard shooting magic electricity.
TOM SCOTT WAS IN MY TOWN NO WAY
COME BACK FOR THE CARNIVALLLLLLLLL
Wow, I never knew there were such unique traditions for each town in England. Great work documenting this one, because I've never seen one of these traditions before. I think I've only heard of one other one and wouldn't mind a series of videos like this.
From my hometown of Bridgwater. I visit the carnival every year and the hard work the men and women put in is incredible. The end of the night finished off with the stunning Squibbing display. Amazing.
Found another with webbed feet (I'm not from Taunton, just proving to you I'm also from there)
@@thatLukeKneller Yo,gimme 6
How did it go this year, (2022)?
@@ajs41 was a fantastic carnival this year
As a former bridgwaterian, I had no idea this was exclusive just to bridgwater! Awesome 😀
"Bridgwaterian" is a very fun-seeming word.
Bridgy.
As someone born outside of bridgwater but lived there for 12 years, its nice to see some folk actually leave it.
This is my town! I’ve done this! I was apart of the carnival for 5 years 😍😍 I can’t believe you went and done this 😍 thank you for sharing this with everyone
i live hereee
Ah fellow bridgys
I just enjoy watching Tom enjoying it so much.
I love how everyone else just looks like this is a normal Tuesday for them, and Tom is standing in the street with a big dumb smile on his face xD
In a small village of Spain called Hervàs, we also have this tradition. Its called Vaca de Fuego which means "Cow of Fire" , someone holds a wooden cow on top of their head with fireworks on top of it and to the sides. Then the person runs around the crowd while we had to avoid. We definitely can get burns from it , and it ends up with actual fireworks shooting up in the sky.
Fun times. One day a firework set off a fire in a flat tho haha.
Didnt Karl Pilkington see this in his Mexico episode of An Idiot Abroad? But it was a giant frog instead of a cow.
@@buf2294 ooooh I didn't know that
@@arthurwilliams4249 and they were celebrating Easter, instead of bonfire night. The Mexicans claim the fireworks shooting out of the frog represent the sins of the people and they choose to burn them.
Yep. They do this in Mexico. There’s one that’s a bull, they’re called “toritos” or “toro de fuego”
In Prades, Pyrenees, South East France, La Fete de Saint-Pierre is another type. Great fun walking around the streets with fireworks
Instead of wrapping up with a piece to camera, Tom instead settled for grinning like an idiot for a few minutes followed by a whoop! Arguably the right call ;-)
This totally reminds me of "Chienbäse" in Liestal, Switzerland. There they carry large "brooms" of burning wood over the shoulder as well as large wagons ablaze pulling through narrow streets. Left and right are spectators trying to stand the heat.
I really love the sign "viewing is at your own risk" so instead of trying to pass the blame on someone else, which ends up getting things banned.
Bridgewater Carnival and the other carnivals in Somerset are glorious, extraordinary events that should be ranked with the top international festivals. But you will find it hard to get accommodation without booking ages in advance. In a normal year the procession is truly spectacular.
5:14 That goofy grin is contagious.
There's a tradition in Catalonia very similar to this called "correfoc" (literally run-fire), but there the (admittedly smaller) sparklers are spinning round, the people holding them are dancing along the street and all sorts of chaos.
In the Valencia region as well :)
@@mhetralla True, I should have said "països catalans"
I went to correfoc in Barcelona, it was great fun.
Fires in La Patum doesn't look much smaller haha
Also, correfocs aren't so civil. The guys holding the fireworks dress like demons and scare people with them.
Big boy Thomas back at it again with his mischievous shenanigans
Just found the video so happy that Bridgwater carnival got some big coverage no wonder it feels like more people are watching.
For some reason I felt really moved by this - I don't really know why. Maybe it's symptomatic of how scattered and isolated we've been, that many of the traditions we rely on to connect and unite us have not been able to be upheld because of the pandemic. It's that sense of comfort in the sameness of things that we take for granted, and that I have not felt in a long time.
Its nice to see Tom just exploring traditional English culture and him having fun while doing so. All his other videos are amazing, going to Germany and Switzerland. But this has a nice ridiculous, towny English feel to it, and its very pleasant. Feels like home
Now there's a display to literally 'blow your mind away'... Unless you're careful like Tom & the awesome people of Bridgwater 👍🏼
@McFlickers It's OK, you aren't half bad either 😆
Shout out to Bridgewater for keeping their traditions alive, but also doing so according to modern safety.
This is usually a part of our float carnival which has also been going on for i think a few hundred years, you can look them up on RUclips!
*Bridgwater :)
Bridgwater is a bit dead, don’t come here
Probably the only time anyone has praised those inbreds, or ever will
@@btuckervideos4705 You sound like a classy guy.
Thank you for visiting Bridgwater and partaking in the Squibbing. Bridgwater is my home town and the carnival is very important to it. I hope you enjoyed the experience and I cannot believe Tom Scott was in Bridgwater just last weekend. Big fan of your videos.
Ah this was fantastic. Thankyou Tom and Bridgewater for letting us be there vicariously.
Bridgwater doesn’t have an e at the end of bridge but thank you
If people haven’t seen Bridgwater carnival with their own eyes then their missing out especially squibbing. This is something that’s very near and dear to my heart and it’s an amazing thing to be apart of especially being from Bridgwater. Please people come to Bridgwater to come to come and watch this amazing display it’s not something to be missed
they're*
I reccomend yall check out another firework-above-head related festival. In Catalonia we do correfocs, that are on a smaller scale than this but the fireworks end up exploding and the people holding them dance together with the crowd! Its an amazing experience to be part of and its cool to see there's similar stuff to this around the world.
Glad you came to visit Bridgwater and got to Squib!
I lived in Bridgwater for 7 years. The carnival was always the best part of living there. One of a kind place
Incredible. If this is the toned down version of the display, the full festivities must be the most spectacularly awe-inspiring event on Earth.
Great watching. Been to a couple of the carnivals as been with some of my family who lives down there but never stayed for the Squibbing. Great to see it in action and also how it works.
I went to the Bridgewater Carnival back in 1983 when I was a student at Exeter - I didn't see the squibbing (I only found out about it after we'd returned) but the parade and atmosphere was incredible. The following year I went to the more famous Tar Barrel runs at Ottery St Mary which was insane. Nothing gets your pulse racing like when the crowds part and a bloke is running at you carrying a 30kg barrel soaked in tar and burning......
I went to Ottery St Mary's every year whilst I was at Uni in 2015 - 2019, it is still going strong!
@@gentmatthe I only heard about it this year because I'm close enough to go! We all had a great time even with the pandemic, and you can see how it's survived all these years!
It looks lovely! I'm glad that there are traditions like these that take the proper measures to keep everything as safe as possible. If only we had this kind of thoughtfulness in my country, we'd have way less accidents!
Loved that. I've heard of Bridgewater Carnival of course, but only knew about the floats.
The thumbnail is golden
*Literally*
That looks like good fun. If you haven't already, then the Sussex Bonfire tradition is worth a look too. Although Lewes is the main one of the season, many towns in Sussex have full on torchlight processions with chanting, drums, effigies, a bonfire and possibly more fireworks than is technically necessary!
Was looking for this comment😊
What an honour!! Bridgwater is my home town and I love the carnival and squibbing ❤️ hope you manage to make it down for the carnival next year, it's very... Bridgwater !! 😂
Can't believe you were in my bloody home town and I missed you. Another great video Tom
@5:45; "Next year, hopefully we'll have even *more* fireworks like usual!"
i grew up in bridgwater and this just brought back SO many pleasant memories. didn't realise squibbing wasn't a thing outside of bridgwater!
Just recently found Tom on yt and since then I became a huge fan. Well done Tom and great video once again.
It's been 20 years since I was last in Bridgwater and saw the Carnival. They honestly do go all out. Miles better than Southend's paltry touchlight procession.
In catalonia and valencia we have a lot of traditions like that. If anyone is interested on the matter we call them "correfocs" I myself participate in a "colla" as we call them.
Our tradition is different tough, we usually dance with the public while holding the fireworks or scare them directing fireworks to the people that want to participate and run from us. And if running while holding (mostly innocuous) fireworks towards people does sound fun for you can assure you it is, a LOT
I'm from this town and im still there,the carnival is no joke worth a watch if have time to ITS AMAZING!
This genuinely looks really fun
If you want another bonfire themed idea, hasting bonfire night starts with the town crier reading from a historical document. What's important with that is the document outlines a brief treaty with America, which was signed to ensure the British government couldn't do something to the town. A few years back we also opened with 2 authentic ww2 American jeeps, after which the main bonfire parade followed.
I'm there!!
would the Jeeps have been 2018?
@@Ramtamtama I looked it up at it was 2019 when I was there, although the jeeps may also have been there in 2018
Now I wonder about that treaty and how it would keep the British gov’t from doing something to Hastings.
For what it is worth,along with Bridgwater carnival,the carnival floats (not the fireworks event) also travel to many other towns in Somerset over a period of a few weeks.
Bridgwater is normally the biggest,but it can get very busy,so for anyone wanting to watch it,maybe look at other locations that maybe a bit quieter or dates that are better suited.
As a local I can HIGHLY recommend coming to watch one of the Carnivals,you will not be disappointed,and they are completely free to watch.
Title: *The town where holding fireworks over your head is a tradition*
Colin Furze: _One bus ticket to Somerset please_
Tom Scott seems so wholesome and kind.
Big smile on my face. Thank you
It's a shame looking up while you're holding the squib would have been so dangerous. They should supply perspex face covers, so you can get the Buck Rogers effect.
Had safty goggles on and can see the person in fronts firework
What's the Buck Rogers effect?
@@Merlincat007 i would also like to know
Here in Catalonia we have a surprisingly similar tradition called "els correfocs" in wich people with demon costumes would run and dance on the street showering everybody with what's essencially thermite. I didnt know that happened anywhere else!
Your face in the preview picture is awesome
What an absolute treat! Thanks sharing thier tradition!
I have been watching your videos for a very long time now and can't believe you were in my home town, I love watching your content and please keep putting out more and more amazing videos!
Tom can't never get enough pyrotechnics
You get to do all of the fun stuff
Tom always in different places doing crazy things…
"Glowing Rain" is a magical sight I didn't know I needed.
Tom I just made up my mind. you´re the best youtube channel that I know of. Super informative and always straight to the point with no bs. Congrats mate!
Tom Scott: more scared of riding a bike than of holding 1lb of lit gunpowder 50 cm from his head
Riding a bike might cause you to embarrass yourself on camera. Lighting gunpowder might be a chance to look badass on camera. Clearly the safer option.
Imagine little Doris walking out of barclays and seeing this
We do this on Spain: It's called Toros de fuego, and we do it in our own style
Probabaly not for the same reasons. Was your parliament subject to an arsenist's terror attack 400 years ago?
4:41 -regretting all your decisions
5:13 -unbridled glee
Absolutely wholesome
Oh my gosh that looked amazing!!!!
Nothing like keeping fireworks right next to your head
I have something like this in my area! I'm from Catalonia, Spain, and here we do local parties and a lot of time there are people with fire (I have to say, less powerful fire than shown in the video) and stuff going in a walk in the street and people get under (it's quite safe actually, you just have to be aware of the sparks) and they usually dance and do cool stuff. It's actually so nice ^^
el bon correfoc
@@sepaol Exactament
No ens oblidem de la Patum de Berga
@@sepaol El mític.
Espera, la teva fotografia és de Les Extranyes Aventures d'en Joanet Joaquim :0
@@Alfr3d_F gran tambe
Can we make this an annual series? Next time do The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
I did the squibbing this year and it’s nothing compared to tar barrels, those people are mental
They did that on the Zac and Jay show.
Neat tradition to showcase my dude.
watching this on tv/online when you could have been watching in person must have been bittersweet.