Guy Fawkes Day

November 05: Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day, also known as also known as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, and Firework Night is celebrated in the United Kingdom. In 1605, Guy Fawkes (a member of the Gunpowder Plot) was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords. He was hung, drawn and quartered. Celebrating that King James I had survived this attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London. A year later, Parliament declared the Observance of 5th November Act as a day of public thanksgiving.

For a time this day took on Protestant religious overtones and anti-Catholic sentiment. Celebrations became increasingly aggressive. Towards the end of the 18th century, children started begging for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes, the day became known as Guy Fawkes Day. Still there were increasingly violent class-based confrontations. By the 1859, the Observance of 5th November Act was repealed. The violence slowly ebbed, and by the 20th century the day became a social event.

Today, there are many organized events and bonfires and firework displays. Prior to the celebration, people make effigies of Guy Fawkes. Children go door to door with smaller effigies begging for “a penny for the Guy.” On Guy Fawkes Night, the effigies are lit on fire and blaze atop a bonfire. Children also play pranks on others just like on Halloween.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

John Milton, 1626, famous first few lines

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⇴ image from Peter Trimming, wikipedia, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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