Bonfire night celebrations have been going on since 5 November around the UK.
The people of Great Britain have been celebrating by lighting bonfires, watching firework displays, and burning the effigies of Guy Fawkes to get into the feeling of this much-loved festival.
Who was Guy Fawkes?
Some may forget that ‘bonfire night’ is also known as Guy Fawkes Day in remembrance of the Gunpowder plot in 1605.
The Gunpowder Plot tells a story of failure enriched in Britain's History. At the time, the Church of England was expanding, and people became furious at King James I for his intolerance of Catholics.
Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby were both strong Catholics who felt that Catholicism could only be restored in one way. Hence, along with their co-conspirators, their plot involved an attempt to blow up the Parliament, the Palace of Westminster, on the day King James was present.
The plot derailed after a conspiracy member got scared and sent a letter to a member of Parliament to warn him away from the building on the night of 5 November.
Fawkes, Catesby, and the group were taken into custody, and on that same night, British people lit bonfires across London in celebration of the failed plot.
Convicted of treason, the conspirators faced a tormentful death of being “drawn and quartered.” This meant they were to be hung by the neck, and their bodies would be cut to pieces after.
Fawkes, however, jumped to his death sections before his execution. Hence, citizens burn the effigies of Fawkes on bonfire night.
A year later, in 1606, Parliament passed the Observance of the “5th of November Act” and declared “a day of thanksgiving” to commemorate Parliament and the King in success against an assassination attempt.
In 1607, Canterbury celebrated with over a hundred pounds of gunpowder and fourteen pounds of matches. Firework displays are held throughout Britain to this date and are now marked with food and drink.
The most famous celebration of Bonfire Night in the entire world was in 1850 in the English town of Lewes. The celebrations resembled a riot, resulting in a ban that resumed peacefully.
Bonfire night is a big deal to the people of England. There is even a nursery rhyme taught to the young to remember the day:
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot. We see no reason why gunpowder treason,
It should never be forgotten.
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