Guy Fawkes’ Night

1.5 November is known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. 2.Guy Fawkes was a Catholic, and didn’t agree with the Protestant faith of the King. 3.Guy became friends with Robert Catesby, who had an idea to kill the King by blowing up the houses of Parliament. 4.It was actually Robert Catesby who led the Gunpowder Plot, not Guy Fawkes – there were 13 people involved. 5.The job Guy Fawkes had in the Gunpowder Plot was to guard the 36 barrels of gunpowder that had been stored in a basement underneath the House of Lords. 6.Guy Fawkes was arrested in the basement on the day he was going to light the gunpowder, 5 November, and he was taken to the Tower of London. 7.King James I decreed that 5 November should be the day that people always celebrate that the Gunpowder Plot didn’t happen. 8.On Bonfire Night, grown-ups set off fireworks, light bonfires, and sometimes burn a doll that looks like Guy Fawkes.

Famous Bonfire Night’s poem

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. They hoped that King James 1st would change the laws, but he didn't. Catholics had to practise their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James lst passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.

The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James l, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king. The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James l, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king.

Guy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5 th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lit. Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London He was tortured and questioned about the other plotters. To start with he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he started to tell the truth.

Every year on 5th November, the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes is remembered. People celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not blown sky high by Guy Fawkes. They light huge bonfires, let off magnificent fireworks and burn an effigy (a guy). The Guy (effigy) is made out of old clothes stuffed with paper or straw.

The fireworks are a reminder of the gunpowder Guy Fawkes hid in the cellar of Parliament. In main town and cities, torch-lit processions are also popular on this night too. The procession leads to where the bonfire and firework displays are. The biggest fireworks display in Kent is the Edenbridge Display. They also have the biggest effigy, a 30ft 'Celebrity Guy'.

During the days before Bonfire Night, children used to take their home-made guys out on the street and ask for "a penny for the Guy" for fireworks. During the days before Bonfire Night, children used to take their home-made guys out on the street and ask for "a penny for the Guy" for fireworks. Children, in some areas, blacken their faces as Guy Fawkes might have done when he plotted to blow up parliament.

As well as burning effigy of Guy Fawkes, the bonfires are used to cook potatoes wrapped in foil and to heat up soup for the crowds that come to watch the fireworks The traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger, treacle and syrup. Other foods include sausages cooked over the flames and marshmallows toasted in the fire.

Jackie Maguire, Seasons and Celebrations, Oxford University Press houses-parliament-640.jpg