It’s that time again! For fireworks, woolly hats and 15-foot fires at the local recreation ground that were not allowed to go anywhere near.
The 5th November is known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. On this day in 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of other men set out to try and blow up the most important building in the UK. The Houses of Parliment. Fawkes was part of the scheme as the ‘mega mind’ as he was the only one who knew where to get, and what gunpowder was, which was very rare at the time. He wanted to follow through with the plot because he didn’t agree with the Protestant faith of the King. As Fawkes was a Catholic.
Guy and his companions started to fill the basements full of gunpowder, which should have, caused the houses to explode. Killing King James. Fortunately, they were caught and Guy Fawkes was locked up in prison at the Tower of London for high treason.
Bonfire Night Tradition
King James then decided that from that day on, the 5th November shall always be remembered as the Gunpowder Plot that didn’t happen. That’s why today we light bonfires in King James’ honour of being saved!
Many school children will have also heard the rhyme, “remember, remember, the 5th November…” it’s a poem that is taught in schools all around the UK. Because the celebration has become nationwide and a very iconic part of British history.
Guy Fawkes, unlike his other conspirators, wasn’t hung, drawn or quartered initially. Instead, Guy committed suicide to escape the terrible conditions in the tower of London. And the dreadful end which was his fate. After his body was found, he was quartered and the parts of his body were spread to four corners of the country. To deter any other criminals with the same ideas.
People today celebrate this event in the main towns and cities, gathering together watching explosive firework displays and keeping warm in the November weather by huge bonfires. The biggest fireworks display is in Kent. It’s called the Edenbridge Display. Celebrating with big ‘Guy’s that are lit on fire!
Follow this link to find out more information about this event: https://www.snizl.com/gb/hampshire/little-london/edenbridge-bonfire/events/eden-bridge-bonfire-procession-firework-extravaganza
On bonfire night, it isn’t just fireworks and big fires, sprinklers have also become a big exciting part, although sparklers can be five times hotter than cooking oil! And the top speed recorded for a rocket firework was 150mph, that’s some serious speed!
Bonfire night is jam-packed with history and its fun for all the family, and another great story in British History that will hopefully carry on to be a hugely celebrated event.