Bonfire
Night:
Remember, Remember the 5th of November.
What do we celebrate on bonfire night? Who was Guy Fawkes?
“Remember, remember
The 5th November
Gunpowder treason and plot
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!”
November 5th 2005 marked the 400th
anniversary of
the Gunpowder Plot, when York born conspirator Guy Fawkes
was caught red-handed with 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar
under the Houses of Parliament. His aim was to detonate the
explosives at the state opening of Parliament, blowing up
King James I and taking the whole of Parliament with him
Fireworks - The Law
The Fireworks Act 2003 More...
Guy Fawkes
The Life of.. November 5th is known as "Guy Fawkes Night", and all
over Britain people fire off fireworks, light bonfires, and burn effigies of
Guy Fawkes. More.. Introduction to Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is normally held on the 5th November or a suitable day that is
close, allowing as many people as possible to celebrate the night at organised
Bonfire parties. It celebrates the defeat of a conspiracy to blow up the
Houses of Parliament with the then King, James I, in them. Bonfire Night
is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks.
The Story of the Gunpowder Plot
On 5th November 1605, two years after the death
of Queen Elizabeth I, soldiers discovered a man called Guy
Fawkes in a cellar under the Houses of Parliament. With him
were at least thirty six barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was
arrested and tortured. At last he gave way and told his torturers
about a plot to blow up Parliament together with the King,
James I, his ministers and Members of Parliament.
The intention was to kill King James I and wipe out everyone
in government. The group were Catholic extremists who wanted
to return England to the Catholic faith. One of the conspirators
had a friend in the Houses of Parliament and sent a letter
to him, warning him to stay away from the House on the day
the attack was supposed to take place. The letter was intercepted
and handed to the king.
Meanwhile, Guy Fawkes and friends, having formulated their
plan, known as the 'Gunpowder Plot', had rolled 36 barrels
of gunpowder into the cellars of the Houses of Parliament,
and were waiting for the king to arrive when guards broke in
and arrested them. They were tortured and executed.
In 1606 Parliament agreed to make 5th November a day of public
thanksgiving and ever since then the day has been celebrated
with fireworks and bonfires.
Bonfires and Burning the Guy
Bonfires play a part in many customs all over the world. On
November 5th as part of Bonfire Night celebrations what makes
the British Bonfire Night celebrations special is the burning
of the guy.
The guy is a figure usually made by the children out of old
clothes, papier mache and anything else we can use. It represents
Guy Fawkes and is burnt on the bonfire. Sometimes in the week
or so before Bonfire Night children will take their guys on
to the street and beg "a penny for the Guy". The
money then goes towards the fireworks.
In many towns across the country, they compete to have the
best Bonfire Night celebrations. The guys used in these celebrations
can be enormous - the height of a small house - and under the
guy's arm is placed a barrel of gunpowder, so you can imagine
the bang when it goes off! Attempts are regularly made on world
records - a few years ago we saw a successful attempt on making
the world's largest Catherine wheel.
First Fireworks
The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding
of King Henry VII in 1486. They gained popularity during the
reign of Henry VIII, and Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) appointed
a Fireworks Master so that someone would be in charge of organising
firework displays for great occasions. James II even knighted
his fireworks master after a particularly excellent show of
fireworks at his coronation.
Fireworks that are sent up on Bonfire night have really evocative
names like, Roman Candles, Mount Vesuvius and Golden Shower.
There are also Catherine Wheels that spin and Sparklers that
children write their names in the air with.
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