I finally left home in early November to experience what all the fuss was about—Bonfire Night, or as it’s called around here, Guy Fawkes Night!
I was rather bewildered by what I discovered about Guy Fawkes Night. The story dates back to 5 November 1605, when there was a plot to blow up the British Parliament, specifically the House of Lords, where King James I was present.
This plot, known as the Gunpowder Plot, was an attempt by a group of English Catholics to assassinate the King. One of the conspirators, Guido Fawkes, was found with explosives under the House of Lords. Their plan to blow up the House during the opening of Parliament failed spectacularly.
The motivation behind this plot was the conspirators’ dissatisfaction with the King’s policies and the hope of replacing him with a Catholic head of state. Once the plot was uncovered, Fawkes and his fellow conspirators faced brutal execution: they were hanged, drawn, and quartered—a gruesome process involving mutilation and dismemberment.
Celebrations of Bonfire Night date back to 5 November 1607, with London’s first recorded celebration in 1608. The night commemorates the foiled attack on the King with bonfires and fireworks. Traditionally, effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned on these bonfires, though the event I attended didn’t include this practice.
Bonfire Night in the UK
Historical Background
- Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot on 5 November 1605.
- The plot involved a group of English Catholics who intended to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords.
- Guy (Guido) Fawkes was found guarding the explosives placed beneath the House of Lords.
- The conspirators were executed in a brutal manner, which was typical for those convicted of treason.
Celebration Origins
- The earliest celebrations date back to 1607, with official records of Bonfire Night in London starting in 1608.
- The celebration traditionally involves bonfires and fireworks, symbolizing the foiled plot and the survival of the King.
- Effigies of Guy Fawkes are often burned on the bonfires.
[POWERKIT_POSTS COUNT=”1″ CATEGORY=”” TAG=”” IDS=”3684″ ORDERBY=”DATE” ORDER=”DESC” TIME_FRAME=”” TEMPLATE=”LIST”]
Rafael and I attended our first Bonfire Night event in Manchester, the largest of which takes place at Heaton Park. We arrived three hours early to secure a good spot, given our unfamiliarity with the event. It was bitterly cold, and at first, the park was nearly empty. We found a prime spot right at the front, with nothing and no one obstructing our view. As the time for the fireworks drew closer, more people began to arrive.
A woman with three children approached us, asking us to make room for her kids. While I was hesitant, I did let one child sit in front of me. Shortly before the fireworks began, the woman complained again, insisting that we make more room for her children, claiming it was an event for children. Her persistence led to a confrontation with security, who initially sided with her. Fortunately, another couple nearby intervened, explaining that the woman had arrived late and was causing a scene. The security guard then apologized to us and assured us he would handle any further issues.
Despite the stress caused by the woman’s behaviour and the freezing temperatures, we managed to enjoy and record 15 minutes of spectacular fireworks. It felt reminiscent of New Year celebrations in Brazil, and we thoroughly enjoyed our Bonfire Night. However, I regretted my choice of shoes as my feet were freezing. Afterwards, we headed home, laughing about the evening’s events and played some board games with a good glass of wine.
