Remember, remember...
In the UK, Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes is celebrated on November 5th and
the night skies are filled with color. It's a special day in honor of a
historic event.
The historical events: What happened?
The year was 1605 and some English Catholics were angry because the King
of England, James I, was treating them badly. In November 1605 a group of men
made a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament (The Big Ben building) in London.
An enormous explosion was planned for November 5th. This was the day that the
King was due to open parliament. The plan is known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ and
the leader of the group was called Guy Fawkes.
Bonfires and Fireworks.
On November 5th people remember the plot to blow up the Houses of
Parliament by celebrating ‘Bonfire Night’. All over Britain there are firework
displays and bonfires with models of Guy Fawkes, which are burned on the fire. The
fireworks are a reminder of the gunpowder that Guy Fawkes hid in the cellar of
Parliament. Some people have a small bonfire in their garden on November 5th.
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Food
It’s normally quite cold in November in Britain, so on Bonfire Night
people wear hats, scarves and gloves to spend the evening outside. They need
some warm food too. Traditional Bonfire Night food is hot baked potatoes. The
potatoes are cooked on the bonfire and filled with butter and cheese.
Penny for the Guy
In Britain only adults can buy fireworks but in the past they were sold
to children too. During the days before Bonfire Night, children would take their home-made Guys onto the streets and asked for ‘a penny for the Guy’ to
collect money to buy fireworks. Now you have to be over 18 to buy fireworks.
Do you want to know more? Take a look at these pages:
Remember,
remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy
Stick him up on high,
Hang him on a lamp post
And there let him die.
Guy,Guy,Guy,
Poke Him in the eye,
Put him on the fire
And there let him die!
Burn his body from his head
Then you'll say
Guy Fawkes is dead!
Hip, Hip, Hooray!
Now Watch the vid from the BBC on the celebration in UK
