Sunday, 4 November 2012

5th November - Guy Fawkes Day / Bonfire Night


Guy Fawkes Night / Guy Fawkes Day / Bonfire Night / Firework Night is a celebration held annually on 5th November.

The History of Bonfire Night:
Guy Fawkes
Its history begins with the events of 5th November 1605 when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. The Gunpowder Plot was a group of Catholic men led by Robert Catesby who plotted to kill King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament. The plot itself was extremely simple: the next time Parliament was opened by King James I they would blow up the Houses of Parliament and everyone in it. To this end the plotters purchased a house next door to the Parliament building – the house had a cellar which extended under the Parliament building and therefore the plan was to put gunpowder under the house and blow up Parliament and the King.  
Guy Fawkes was given the job of watching over the barrels of gunpowder and lighting the fuse however on the morning of the 5th November soldiers discovered him hidden away in the cellar and arrested him. Guy was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and questioned. Initially he said nothing about his co-conspirators however eventually after more torture he succumbed and told the soldiers all they wanted to know.  
To celebrate the fact King James I had survived an attempt on his life people lit bonfires around London and months later the King introduced the Observance of 5th November and enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.

Politics & Religion:
Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day as it was known became the predominant English state commemoration however as it carried strong religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-catholic feeling. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures – for example: the Pope. During the 1850s changing attitudes eventually resulted in the toning down of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric and in 1859 the original 1606 legislation was repealed.

What does the Guy and Fireworks Represent?
Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging for money with effigies
of Guy Fawkes and 5th November gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day. The effigy (the Guy) is made out of old clothes stuffed with paper or straw – the Guy being a reminder of Guy Fawkes. Children would take their Guys out in the streets and ask for “a penny for the Guy” which would pay for fireworks – the fireworks are a reminder of the gunpowder Guy Fawkes hid in the cellar of Parliament.

Today’s Guy Fawkes Celebrations:
In the end the violence was dealt with and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable social celebration although it does lack much of its original focus. The present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised events that are centred on a bonfire and extravagant firework displays.


Bonfire Societies:
The Bonfire Societies of Sussex (and its close neighbours) are centred on Lewes – the seven Societies always hold their celebrations on 5th November. Other Societies hold their events anytime between mid-September and the end of November and the Societies attend each other’s processions.
The torchlight processions are followed by fireworks and the burning of an effigy with everyone attending having a good time whilst in the process of raising thousands of pounds for various charities and good causes. For a more in depth history in to the Bonfire Society and a complete list of Bonfire Societies – both running and defunct please follow the link:

Local Traditions:
Towns such as Lewes and Guildford saw increasing scenes of violent class-based confrontations in the 19th century which have developed into traditions that these towns continue to commemorate today although today the tradition is peaceable.
Tar Barrels being carried in Ottery St Mary 
In Ottery St Mary – Devon they have a Tar Barrel tradition where teams of men carry a flaming 50lb tar barrel on their shoulders through the streets of the town. When the tar barrel gets too hot for the man carrying it another member of their team tales over / then another and so on and so on until the flames die out and there is nothing left of the barrel. For much more information about this tradition please check out the following link:
Edenbridge – Kent hold an annual celebration on the first Saturday of November. Here you will see the largest free-standing effigy of Guy Fawkes in Britain. A more recent tradition that has been started is the addition of a “Celebrity Guy” – this is a figure that is newsworthy and can be a national or international figure. Both effigies stand 30ft in height and are designed to self-destruct through a series of incredible explosions. More information can be found following this link:

Traditional Bonfire Night Foods:
Soup
Hot Potatoes (wrapped in foil)
Sausages (cooked over the flames)
Bonfire Toffee
Parkin Cake (a Northern form of gingerbread)
Marshmallows (toasted in the fire)
For more recipes and ideas please check out the following link: http://britishfood.about.com/od/bonfirenight/tp/top10bonfirerecipes.htm

Bonfire Night Rhymes
Remember, Remember
Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot!
A stick or a stake for King James' sake
Will you please to give us a faggot
If you can't give us one, we'll take two;
The better for us and the worse for you!

Another version of Remember, Remember
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent 
To blow up king and parliament. 
Three score barrels were laid below 
To prove old England's overthrow. 

By God's mercy he was catch'd 
With a darkened lantern and burning match. 
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring. 
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him? 
Burn him!

Bonfire’s Burning (to the tune of: London’s burning)
Bonfire’s burning, Bonfire’s burning,
Getter hotter, Getting hotter,
Fire, fire! Fire, fire!
Rocket’s whizzing, Rocket’s whizzing,
Sparklers fizzing, Sparklers fizzing

Enjoy your 5th November :D

 Written by: Andria Owen
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