"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot. We see no reason.
Why gunpowder treason, should ever be forgot!"
And we have yet to truly forget. For if anyone knows how to hold a grudge, it is most certainly the Brits. The 5th of November is dubbed 'Guy Fawkes Day' or, frequently known as, 'Bonfire Night' and is an annual event.
Before we begin, I'd like to thank Pancake for the spectacular layout - especially on such short notice !
Many outside of the UK shall most know Guy Fawkes due to the graphic novel and film, 'V for Vendetta', in which the protagonist wore Fawkes masks whilst battling a future fascist government in Britain.
However, I'm about to reveal the true history of the man himself. To introduce Guy Fawkes Day in a basic manner? It is the celebration that Guy Fawkes (rhymes with 'Hawks') and his men failed in their attempt to blow up the British Houses of Parliament (aka the Government building).
However, the history of the day does not stand so straightforward.
It was in 1605 that the Gunpowder plot occurred. The motive? King James I acted as a tyrant towards Catholics upon his claim to the throne in 1603. They had hoped for better after Queen Elizabeth I. Under her, Catholics could not legally celebrate mass or marry and many Priests were killed (often hung or hung, drawn and quartered in public).
In 1604, King James claimed Catholicism to be nothing more than mere 'superstition' and ordered all Catholic priests to leave England. Throughout the reigns of both Elizabeth and James, there were multiple attempts to try to fix their tyranny - from kidnapping to murder.
However, they never got as close as they did with the Gunpowder Plot.
Despite general belief, Fawkes was only a mere lackey of the plot. The real leader was a man named Robert Catesby. But Guy Fawkes was the one who gained the most attention for the plot (due to being the one to fork it up...). After the plot, he was referred to as a traitor but in the modern day, in some circles, he is viewed as a revolutionary hero.
Fawkes had a long history in protesting and activism, having previously helped to fight for Spain against Protestant rebels in the then-Spanish controlled, Netherlands. He also went by numerous alias', one being 'John Johnson' - which he used whilst serving as a caretaker of a cellar that was located just beneath the House of Lords in British Parliament. Here, gunpowder was stockpiled (you can all see where this going).
The plan was that on the 5th November 1605, King James I would be visiting the Houses along with his eldest son. Whilst they were there, Fawkes would light a fuse to cause Parliament to explode - thus killing the King and Prince, who'd be next in line to continue his tyranny.
Fawkes was then supposed to escape across the River Thames to safety whilst his fellow men started an uprising in the Midlands, kidnapped James' daughter Elizabeth, employ her as a Queen that they could pull the strings of and then marry her to a Catholic - restoring Catholic monarchy.
Buuuttt, this didn't happen.
Rumours were that an anonymous letter was sent from a Catholic sympathiser, advising them to avoid the visit to Parliament. Whatever caused the enforcements to discover the plot, lead to its downfall.
On 4th November, they discovered Guy Fawkes hiding out in the cellars - preparing for the plot - with matches and 36 barrels of gunpowder. He was arrested and tortured in the Tower of London upon special request of James I, along with his men aside from a few (Including Catesby) who were killed in a shootout with troops. The surviving men were sentenced with treason and given the death penalty of being hung, drawn and quartered.
Catholics would not be fully emancipated of tyranny until the 19th Century.
Celebration
In January 1606, 5th November was officially declared a day of celebration.
In the past, Children would go around with their effigies (like Scarecrows) demanding a "penny for the Guy" (something similar to that of Trick or Treating) and imploring crowds to "Remember, remember, the fifth of November" - a chant that is still remembered today, the nursery rhyme taught to children of all ages.
In modern day, Guy Fawkes Day is typically celebrated upon nightfall where friends and family join together. They set off fireworks, which represent the explosion that almost was, and light bonfires where some even burn effigies of Fawkes. It is not always limited to just the 5th of November, either, with people holding celebrations for an entire "Bonfire Week" (to the dismay of some, especially dog owners). Some may attend displays, viewing mass spectacles of amazing fireworks. Others prefer to keep it more cosy and close to home, creating their own displays. The latter is how my family typically celebrated in the past, though we once attended the odd display. Now, we're a little frugal and spectate everyone else's fireworks as we live in an area that is easily viewable of many, many fireworks.
Bonfire Night is a night of togetherness, no matter how you decide to celebrate. Of watching the skies dance with colour, waves of sparklers twirling in the moonlight. A night to remember, what could've been.
"...And what shall we do with him? Burn him!"
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