Guy Fawkes Night

Guy Fawkes Who?

It's bonfire night here in England where everyone burns effigies of Guy Fawkes and set of fireworks. As an American, when I first moved to London, I thought the 5th of November was a pagan ritual day until someone thoughtfully explained the Guy Fawkes story.

Guy Fawkes was also known as Guido Fawkes and a member of the English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of November 5th, 1605. He was born in York, England and entered an extensive military career of which time he switched sides and served Spain in the Eighty Years War. Guy travelled to Spain to seek support for a Catholic rebellion in England with an intent to have the Papist sect driven out of England.

Failed Gunpowder Plot It appears that Guy Fawkes fell in with the wrong crowd, or perhaps he sought them out for his own cause. Guy teamed up with leader Robert Catesby who had it out for King James and wanted to take the thrown for his daughter, third in line, Princess Elizabeth.

The arrangement seemed errorless until a few conspirators became apprehensive about fellow Catholics that might be in Parliment when it explodes. They leaked info about the plot to a select few and soon King James found out and it was Guy Fawkes that was caught with the match and 20 barrels of gunpowder. Fawkes and seven of the conspirators were trialed, tortured and hanged.

Bonfires and Burning Effigies After opportunely rescuing the houses of parliament, the public was encouraged to celebrate since the 5th of November, 1605. From the year 1650 onwards, the bonfires and fireworks were included. Fireworks displays for the Guy Fawkes celebration are as large as some of the 4th of July displays in America! As for burning effigies, originally an effigy of the Pope was burned; however, now it is mostly Guy Fawkes. Strangely, even though there were 13 plotters, Guy Fawkes is the famed conspirator, perhaps because he was the one caught holding the match.

Overall, Guy Fawkes bonfire night is a night that the UKlooks forward to enjoying the fireworks displays and setting things on fire. Children compete for building the biggest Guy Fawkes effigies in anticipation of setting it alight during the evening's bonfire. I have to admit, it is strange but in the eyes of a child - who doesn't want to see fireworks and be allowed to set things on fire!

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