The Tarves People’s Party: Fire, Planning, and Community

Abstract

The Tarves bonire in North-East Scotland is a seasonal event
tied to the mid-autumn calendar customs of Samhainn, Halloween, and
Guy Fawkes Night. Established as an outgrowth of these traditions in
1999, it has grown into the biggest such regional event outside large
conurbations. As a ‘new’ traditional event, it is subject to a wide range
of regulatory pressures, from the precedents of ancient practice to the
concerns of modern civic authorities such as the local council and the
police. Drawing on interviews and first-hand experience, this paper
looks at a range of internal and external regulatory forces germane to
the annual community event.