BRITISH FESTIVITY : GUY FAWKES NIGHT

 

Jade's DIY : a Guy Fawkes 's effigy

Special thanks to Jade and Elsa for their oral presentation

 

           

             Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)

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On 5 November 1605, the infamous Gunpowder Plot took place in which some Catholics plotted to blow up the English Parliament and King James l, on the day set for the king to open Parliament. The men were angry because the king had treated them badly and they didn't like it.

The story is remembered each 5th November when 'Guys' are burned in a celebration known as "Bonfire Night".

Why did Guy Fawkes want to kill King James 1st and the king’s leaders?

When Queen Elizabeth 1st took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly. They hoped that King James 1st would change the laws, but he didn't.

Catholics had to practise their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James lst passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.

What happened - the Gungpowder Plot

A group of men led by Robert Catesby, plotted to kill King James and blow up the Houses of Parliament, the place where the laws that governed England were made.

Guy Fawkes was one of a group of men

 The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James l, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king.

Guy Fawkes Discovered

GuGuy Fawkes was given the job to keep watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of 5^th November, soldiers discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lity hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The trail of gunpowder at his feet would never be lit.

Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London

He was tortured and questioned about the other plotters. To start with he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he started to tell the truth

A Celebration

In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5^th November.

Today Bonfire Night is celebrated all over the UK

        IN ENGLAND:

Throughout England, towns and villages....

• light huge bonfires,
• let off magnificent fireworks,
• burn an effigy (a homemade model of a man, like a scarecrow) and
• celebrate the fact the Parliament and James I were not blown sky high by Guy Fawkes 

Penny for the Guy

During the days before Bonfire Night, children used to take their home-made guys out on the street and ask for "a penny for the Guy" for fireworks. 

Traditional Bonfire Night Food

As well as burning effigy of Guy Fawkes, the bonfires are used to cook potatoes wrapped in foil (= papier alu) and to heat up soup for the crowds that come to watch the fireworks

The traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger, treacle and syrup.

Other foods include sausages cooked over the flames and marshmallows toasted in the fire.

GAME


Test your knowledge of the Gunpowder Plot with this interactive quiz.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/launch_gms_gunpowder_plot.shtml