5th November: Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night

ESO Students,

We give you again the post published in previous years about Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder plot. Enjoy it:

In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night (or, more casually in recent times as Fireworks Night), is an annual celebration held on the evening of 5th November to mark the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 5th November 1605, in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to destroy the Houses of Parliament in London, to assassinate James I of England and restore Catholicism to England.

In the United Kingdom, celebrations take place in towns and villages across the country in the form of both private and civic events. The festivities involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires on which 'guys' are traditionally burnt. The 'guys' are traditionally effigies of Guy Fawkes, the most famous of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, although may also be effigies of local or national hate figures. It is possible that effigies were burnt on bonfires (originally 'bone - fires') at this time of year long before such celebrations were attributed to Guy Fawkes as they may actually represent the remnants of pre-Christian sacrifice rituals held around the Autumn solstice (i.e., Samhain). Although the night is celebrated in York (Fawkes' hometown) some there do not burn his effigy, most notably those from his old school. In the weeks before bonfire night, children traditionally displayed the "guy" and requested a "penny for the guy" in order to raise funds with which to buy fireworks. However, this practice has diminished greatly, perhaps because it has been seen as begging, and also because children are not allowed to buy fireworks. In addition there are concerns that children might misuse the money.

If you want to know more visit
Wikipedia
Bonfirenight.net
Guy-Fawkes.com
The Gunpowder Plot
who was the real Guy Fawkes
read what OppenBlog has to say
or play the Bonfire Night Game.

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non-commercial purposes only.