Over the years we’ve had many questions from our students surrounding the British tradition of Bonfire Night, so we thought we’d put together a short blog piece to explain.
For 400 years, bonfires have burned on 5th November which marks the failed “Gunpowder Plot”. The plot, of course, was led by Guy (Guido) Fawkes and Robert Catesby who planned to assassinate the Protestant King James and replace him with his daughter, third in the line of succession, the Princess Elizabeth
When Queen Elizabeth 1st took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly and they had hoped that King James I would change the laws back, but unfortunately for them, he didn’t.
Catholics had to practise their religion in secret and there were even fines for people who didn’t attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James I passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.
Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby plotted to kill King James and blow up the Houses of Parliament, the place where the laws that governed England were made. The plot was simple – the next time Parliament was opened by King James I, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder.
And so, the men bought a house next door to the parliament building and filled it with gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse but on the morning of 5th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lit.
The tradition of the GuyFawkes related bonfire began the same year as the failed plot. At the time, Londoners knew little more than that their King had been saved, to which they lit bonfires to celebrate. As the years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate.
Fireworks were soon added to the celebrations, as were homemade figures representing Guy Fawkes which are laid on to the bonfire and burned.
Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as “Pope Day” as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.