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Monday, 5 January
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Bonfire Night
Primarily in the United Kingdom, but also in some former British colonies (South Africa, New Zealand, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada and the Caribbean islands), 5th November each year is synonymous with Guy Fawkes Night – also known as Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night.
In Australia until the 1980s, the equivalent of Guy Fawkes Night was held in many places on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June.
Guy Fawkes Night dates back to November 1605, when a group of Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby laid plans to blow up Westminster Palace (in which the Houses of Parliament are located). They intended to do this when the Protestant King, James I (King James VI of Scotland), and his family were in the building for the State Opening of Parliament, at which members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords would also have been present.
The real instigator of the plot is commonly believed to have been one Robert Parsons, a Jesuit Priest from Nether Stowey, near Bridgwater (Somerset, England). Among the conspirators, all of whom were eventually caught and executed by being "hung, drawn and quartered", was Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, an English soldier.
Fawkes was the principal architect of the later stages of the Gunpowder Plot, as it became known, but his activities were discovered before the plan was completed when the barrels of gunpowder were detected in a cellar he had rented underneath the Palace.
It is said they had hidden 1800lbs (820kg) of gunpowder as early as March 1605 in preparation for the destruction of not only the seat of Government but all the leading politicians, Royalty and aristocrats in the country.
Some two weeks before the State Opening, one of the conspirators wrote a letter to his friend, Lord Monteagle, warning him not to attend. This became known to the conspirators, but Fawkes calmed them, confirming that the contents of the cellar remained untouched. Unfortunately, Monteagle was suspicious, and alerted the authorities - who ordered a search of the cellars and vaults.
Although the legend states that Fawkes was caught with a burning torch in his hand ready to set fire to the fuses, this is very unlikely, as he was caught in the morning - and the State Opening of Parliament was not due to take place until the evening. It is much more likely that Fawkes was actually checking that everything was in order for the detonation later that day. The King was most likely not even in the Palace at the time of Fawkes' capture.
The names of the co-conspirators were probably obtained from Fawkes by torture. Some killed themselves and the fate of the others is outlined above.
The Gunpowder Plot and its discovery immediately became a focus of attention amongst the masses. Celebrations began the length and breadth of the country each year to commemorate the event. Typical celebrations included bonfires and fireworks, often associated with feasting on roast meats cooked on the fires.
From an early date it became common for people (mainly children) to build dummies – effigies of Guy Fawkes – which were commonly called "Guys" which they would parade through the streets (often collecting coins on the way) and then burn on top of the bonfire. At one time it was also common to burn effigies of the Pope, but this has all but ceased, with only the Lewes celebrations continuing that tradition.
In Lewes they also commemorate 17 Protestant martyrs who were burned at the stake during the reign of the Catholic Queen, Mary Tudor. The celebrations include a torchlit procession through the streets, which necessitates the closing of the town centre, and the tossing of a burning barrel of tar into the river. Controversially, the effigies burned on the bonfire are not only ones depicting Guy Fawkes, but also other unpopular figures. The Police in Lewes continually call for restraint, such is the fervour of the festivities, which often present real dangers due to the numbers of people attending.
Originally the celebrations were full of religious implications, but they now have little political or sectarian significance, which is evident from the fact that the traditional poem….”Remember, Remember the Fifth of November…” has virtually lost the sectarian verses, in fact few people remember any more than the first two lines! Here it is in its entirety:Remember, remember The fifth of November, The gunpowder, treason and plot. I see of no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent To blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, Poor old England to overthrow: By God's providence he was catch'd With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King! Hip hip hoorah! A penny loaf to feed the Pope. A farthing o' cheese to choke him. A pint of beer to rinse it down. A faggot of sticks to burn him. Burn him in a tub of tar. Burn him like a blazing star. Burn his body from his head. Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead. Hip hip hoorah! Hip hip hoorah hoorah!
Guy Fawkes Night, equally well known as Bonfire Night but less so as Fireworks Night, has various other traditions associated with it from locality to locality. Not least of those traditions are the various kinds of foods prepared for (even cooked on) the night around the country.
Recipes for some of these are linked to this site, but typical of bonfire fare is treacle toffee, toffee apples, parkin (in Yorkshire, November 5th is sometimes called Parkin Day) and jacket potatoes and roasted chestnuts (often cooked in the bonfire itself).
Although 5th November is the traditional night for celebrations, the modern trend is for the festivities to be moved to a weekend - which can result in there being bonfires and fireworks each evening for almost a week (especially in areas where Diwali is also celebrated).
In modern years there has been a significant change in the ways in which Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated, due to concerns over the safety of people and property – but to try and prevent injuries to children in particular. For many years children were injured or maimed through the misuse, abuse or malfunction of fireworks, and many types of firework have now been legally banned in many countries, not just the UK – including jumping jacks and "bangers". Animal welfare organisations also expressed many concerns over the loud noises which frightened animals.
In many communities Guy Fawkes Night is now celebrated with officially organised bonfires and professionally managed firework displays.
In the South West of England, a whole series of illuminated carnivals, held between late August and mid-November, can be directly linked to the Gunpowder Plot and the subsequent celebrations of Guy Fawkes Night. For more information about these, please see the page about the West Country Carnival.
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