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".
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.
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 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
In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5th 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
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.
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| Effigy of G. Fawkes |
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
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| Parkin cake |
The traditional cake eaten on bonfire night is Parkin Cake, a sticky cake containing a mix of oatmeal, ginger, treacle and syrup.
People make faces out of large pumpkins and put candles inside: this is called Jack O'Lantern. They cut out ghosts and spectres and even skeletons and put them in their windows. Teenagers in middle school and high school have aHalloween party and dance. The party is in the evening in the school gymnasium. After the school party, everyone helps to clean up.
on a string", and others. Typical Halloween food is nuts, popcorn, pumpkin pie, liquorice, sweets and candied apples. The Halloween drink is apple cider.
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