Who was Guy Fawkes, what does he have to do with bonfires, and why should we remember the fifth of November? Check out this post to find out!
Every year on November 5th, people across the United Kingdom light up the night sky with fireworks, gather around bonfires, and celebrate with tasty treats. But why?
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
In 1605, a group of Catholic extremists exasperated with ongoing persecution at the hands of the Protestant monarchy plotted to assassinate King James I, and set his 9-year old daughter on the throne. But not only did they want to get rid of the king, they wanted to spectacularly blow up the Houses of Parliament (and most likely Westminster Abbey), reducing them all to rubble.
The plotters hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar beneath Parliament, with Guy Fawkes, their explosives expert, guarding the barrels. But before they could set them off, a warning letter surfaced at the last minute and the plot was discovered. Searching the cellars, soldiers found and arrested Fawkes. He was tortured until he gave up the names of his co-conspirators, each of whom was tried, sentenced, and executed for treason.
To insure that the event was never forgotten, King James ordered that bonfires be lit in all across England in celebration. And so the tradition of Bonfire Night has been carried on for over 400 years, and today, people all across the Uniter Kingdom celebrate by gathering around bonfires, watching firework displays, and sometimes even making a “Guy” figure stuffed with straw, and placed on top of the bonfire to commemorate the event.
The Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night Poem:
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!
Try Some Traditional Guy Fawkes Day Recipes
Another tradition of Bonfire Night is enjoying a delicious sticky cake called parkin. This cake is a traditional recipe from Northern England, made with oatmeal, treacle, and ginger – perfect for a chilly autumn night by the fire! If you’re looking for a special treat to enjoy on Bonfire Night, try this simple parkin recipe and make it 1-2 days in advance, serving it with a good strong cup of black tea.
Another Bonfire Night tradition is bonfire toffee, made with treacle, a pantry staple in England!
Further Resources for Learning About Guy Fawkes & Bonfire Night
Read or watch all about Guy Fawkes with the following resources! Note: while the book Fawkes by Nadine Brandes is a YA historical fantasy novel, it’s still an informative and delightful read for all ages!
Fawkes: A Novel
Guy Fawkes For Kids: The Gunpowder Plot of 1605Guy Fawkes: The Gunpowder Plot
