Contents

.What is Guy Fawkes Night?

.Who was Guy Fawkes?

.Why is Guy Fawkes Night celebrated?

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What is Guy Fawkes Night?

Guy Fawkes night, also commonly known as Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes day or Firework Night, is a yearly celebration that happens on the 5th of November. This day is celebrated since 1605 when Guy Fawkes - a member of the Gunpowder plot - was arrested whilst he was guarding the explosives that were placed under the House of Lords.

Now the Gunpowder Treason Day has become a well known celebration throughout Britain and its history as it celebrates the strength of the English Parliament.

The British since this day celebrate the survival of King James I as many believe the plotters were hoping to kill him that day. People on the day of Guy Fawkes' arrest lit bonfires around London and continued to do so for many months after. Due to this the Observance of 5th November Act was introduced as an annual public day to be thankful of the failure of the plot.

A nursey rhyme has been made for children to quickly learn and remember the importance of the 5th of November.

The Fifth of November

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 and his companions    Did the scheme contrive,    To blow the King and Parliament    All up alive.    Threescore barrels, laid below,    To prove old England's overthrow.    But, by God's providence, him they catch,    With a dark lantern, lighting a match!    A stick and a stake    For King James's sake!    If you won't give me one,    I'll take two,    The better for me,    And the worse for you.    A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,    A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,    A pint of beer to wash it down,    And a jolly good fire to burn him.    Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!    Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!    Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

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Additionally Guy Fawkes wanted to blow up King James I because of religion. The plotters were Catholic and England was Protestant at the time of the attack. The plotters wanted England to be Catholic again which they thought would be possible if they killed King James I and his ministers.

Old Catholic church

How did the plot fail?

The plot failed because one member of the gunpowder plot had sent a letter warning his friend who worked in the Houses of Parliament to stay out on the 5th November. Luckily the King's supporters got hold of the letter and that saved them. Upon getting this news, guards broke into the cellar under the Houses of Lords where the plotters were waiting. The plotters had 36 barrels full of gunpowder that they stored in a secret room under the Houses of Lords. After this, the guards had arrested and executed the criminals.

Gunpowder is also sometimes called black powder. It is the earliest known chemical explosive. Gunpowder was invented in China in the 9th century. The gunpowder that was used during the plot was in storage across the river in Robert Catesby's house and as a result was transported to London by boat.

Who was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes was born and educated in York. Sadly, Fawkes' father had died when Fawkes was only eight years old. Guy Fawkes was also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted whilst he was fighting for the Spanish. He was also one of the well known members of a group of Provincial English Catholics, who planned the failed Gunpowder plot in 1605. During Guy Fawkes' execution in January, Fawkes fell from the block, where he was hung and broke his neck with lots of pain and as a result died.

Facts:

-Guy Fawkes was born on 13th April 1570.

-Although Guy Fawkes wasn't the main conspirator in the Gunpowder plot, he probably had one of the most important roles. Guy Fawkes was the one who lit the match to set the 36 barrels of gunpowder on fire.

-Guy Fawkes was Protestant by birth.

-Guy Fawkes converted to Catholicism at the age of 16, this was a time when people practicing Catholicism and also Catholic priests were being punished for their beliefs.

-Guy Fawkes was an experienced soldier although he didnt fight for his own country. This is one of the reasons why he became known as Guido as he started fighting in the Netherlands for the Spanish Empire to fight and support Catholicism.

-Despite being one of Britain's famous villains, Guy Fawkes has an island named after him; this is located in the Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands.

-The cellar that Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up no longer exists: it was destroyed in a fire in 1834.

Why is Guy Fawkes Night celebrated?

The reason why Guy Fawkes night was celebrated is because that exact night on November 5th the plotters failed their master plan they had disused for many years to arrange. Since then, November 5th is known as bonfire night, where fireworks explode in the midnight sky. On November 5th there are many beautiful fireworks shimmering in the pitch black sky.

The thing about Guy Fawkes that is really good is that

the plotters were caught and people who visited the parliament were safe from the deadly chemical

explosive, and that was the day November 5th. Now many people understand why Guy Fawkes night is extremely important and we should celebrate how many people stayed alive were the bomb was planted under the Houses of Parliament.

This is where the bomb was planted.

All over Britain there are

firework displays and

bonfires with models of

Guy Fawkes, which are

burned on fire...This is a

beautiful and fantastic

example of a firework

display.