Why Do We Celebrate Bonfire Night?

Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is celebrated annually in the United Kingdom on November fifth to honor the failure of an attempt to destroy the House of Lords of British parliament in January of 1606, known as the Gunpowder Plot. This attempt, though in vain, was made to restore Catholicism to England. An act to mandate the holiday was passed in England and then repealed over one hundred years ago; but, the holiday is still celebrated.

The Gunpowder Plot was the brainchild of Guy Fawkes as well as:

• Robert Catesby
• Thomas Wintour
• Robert Wintour
• John Wright
• Christopher Wright
• Robert Keyes
• Thomas Percy
• John Grant
• Ambrose Rookwood
• Sir Everard Digby
• Francis Tresham
• Thomas Bates

Fawkes, the most famous and notorious of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators, became involved with the small group of English Catholics who planned to assassinate the King in 1604. The group was concerned with extremely strict anti-Catholic measures that the leadership of England had taken, and felt quite oppressed as citizens.

In 1605, this group strategically placed an excessive amount of gunpowder—thirty six barrels, to be precise--below the House of Lords.

What Happened on Guy Fawkes Night

Although the intended actions of the group were quite violent, they eventually became wary of killing other Catholics or friends or family. One of the group’s members had a family member in parliament, so they warned him not to attend on the day they planned to ignite the explosives. Of course, this member immediately brought the letter before the King, effectively tipping off the authorities and a search of the premises occurred.

The gunpowder was found and Guy Fawkes was arrested, found with matches and torchwood. He was tortured, mutilated and eventually confessed the names of his peers, and they were all subject to execution.

Customs for Bonfire Night Celebration

Several customs are present in the celebrating of Guy Fawkes Day. Although many celebrate it worldwide, it is of course based in Great Britain. Fireworks and bonfires are common, and it used to be a custom to make a “guy,” or a figure of Guy Fawkes to burn.

It was even tradition for a while for children to make a “guy” and stand in the street with a sign asking for a “penny for the guy,” which they would use to buy fireworks. These more violent traditions have fallen out of favor. Traditional foods include:

• Bonfire toffee
• Toffee apples
• Baked potatoes
• Black peas
• Potato pie
• Groaty pudding

Guy Fawkes in Popular Culture

Guy Fawkes Day has also recently re-entered the cultural lexicon with the release of the 2005 film “V for Vendetta”, based off the comic book of the same name, in which a freedom fighter works in a dystopian future Great Britain to complete the work of the men who tried to blow up parliament in 1605.

The Gunpowder plot is referenced often throughout the film, as traditional rhymes about the event are recited and the film’s anti-hero is only seen clad in a Guy Fawkes mask. Although a cult movie, “V for Vendetta” was a success and made the story of the Gunpowder Plot internationally recognizable and has even prompted those in other countries to take up Bonfire Night traditions.

Bonfire Night is a celebration that the House of Lords still stands as it did in 1605 because the efforts of a small group of people to destroy it were foiled. Part of a plot to restore Catholicism to England, it’s a story that is well known around Great Britain and areas that used to be controlled by it, as it is observed by many former colonies. A holiday for national pride, Bonfire Night has since turned into a more lighthearted and enjoyable holiday.