British Holidays - Guy Fawkes Day

Every year on 5th November British people celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. The tradition of Guy Fawkes bonfires goes back to the beginning of the 17th century. When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. However, he was not, and this angered a number of young men who decided that violent action was the answer. In 1605 one young man suggested to some close friends that the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored it in a cellar, just under the House of Lords. But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that some innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators. Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed. Soon, many conspirators were either caught outright as they flew from London, or surrendered shortly thereafter. All imprisoned plotters were executed publicly in March 1607. They were "hanged, drawn, and quartered". These days, Guy Fawkes Day is also known as Bonfire Night. The tradition of Guy Fawkes bonfires began on 5th of November 1605 when agitated Londoners who knew that their King had been saved, joyfully lit bonfires in thanksgiving. As years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate. Soon, people began placing effigies onto bonfires, and fireworks were added to the celebrations. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes those of the Pope, graced the pyres. Still today, some communities throw dummies of both Guy Fawkes and the Pope on the bonfire the gesture is seen as a tradition, rather than an expression of hostility towards the Pope. Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dummy of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities. On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky.