Bonfire night is one of the most exciting events in the U.K. Every year Brits celebrate by setting off fireworks, lighting bonfires and burning ‘Guys’. But do you know the 400 year old true story behind one of Britain’s biggest celebrations?
In 1605, a group of English Catholics made a plan to kill the Protestant Christian King James I. The assassination plot came after hostility between the two religious groups grew stronger, after decades of disagreements. The group of English Catholics was lead by a man named Robert Catesby, and his friend Guy Fawkes.
Catesby and his allies decided to create a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament, whilst the King and his Government were inside. The group snuck into the building through a cellar which belonged to the building next door, and began to fill the basement with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Once the cellar was full of explosives, the plan was for Guy Fawkes to light the fuse during the King’s opening of Parliament on the 5th November 1605, and quickly escape to Europe.
However, whilst creating the plan there were some members of the English Catholic group who became worried about the number of innocent victims an attack like this could cause. On the 26th of October, Lord Monteagle (a member of British Parliament) received an anonymous letter, encouraging him to avoid the opening of Parliament at all costs.
Following on from this letter, suspicions grew and the royal servants and members of staff in the parliament were ordered to conduct searches of the building. Around midnight on November 4th 1605, a search group discovered Guy Fawkes in the cellar of the building, surrounded by explosive gunpowder. He was instantly arrested and the plot was over.
The next day, across Great Britain, bonfires were set alight in celebration of the King and Parliament’s safety. A year later, in 1606, Parliament agreed to make November 5th a national day of thanks giving, which is the reason we have celebrated Bonfire Night on this day ever since.
During modern-day celebrations, fireworks are set off representing the unlit gunpowder, and huge bonfires are lit across the country. We throw parties, eat toffee apples and hot dogs. In the past, scarecrows made to look like Guy Fawkes were burnt on the bonfires, however in recent years this part of the celebration has declined in popularity, and has been replaced with hand held sparklers and other more light hearted celebrations.
In London, you can find plenty of fireworks events where you can join in the festivities. Every corner of the city skyline will be lit up with beautiful fireworks for the entire evening, from Wimbledon to Alexandra Palace, Harrow to Battersea, you can expect to find fireworks in nearly every single park in the city. Lots of events are free, but some do require tickets, so be sure to check the event website ahead of time.
You can learn more about bonfire night, and what the celebrations involve in this Youtube video:
We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night.
Why not join us in London this November on one of our upcoming English courses.