Guy Fawkes Night

GuyGuy Fawkes NightFawkes Night King James I, Protestant from Scotland, was on the British King James I, Protestant from Scotland, was on the British

throne throne

at the beginning of the 17at the beginning of the 17thth century, being very unpopular, particularly century, being very unpopular, particularly

with English Catholics who wanted to restore Catholicism in Britain. with English Catholics who wanted to restore Catholicism in Britain.

Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on the the

55ththNovember, 1605. On that day the King was to open Parliament November, 1605. On that day the King was to open Parliament session, session,

and the plotters hoped to kill him, as well as to destroy the Parliament, and the plotters hoped to kill him, as well as to destroy the Parliament, by by

exploding 36 barrels of gun powder which they had put under the exploding 36 barrels of gun powder which they had put under the House of Lords.House of Lords.

Guy Fawkes Night

A man called Guy Fawkes was to explode the gun powder.

However, one of the plotters spoke about it, and Fawkes was

arrested and later hanged.

Since that day British people celebrate the 5th of November by

burning a dummy on a bonfire; they also let off fireworks at the

same time.

Guy Fawkes Night

The dummy, made of straw and rags, is called a “guy”, after

Guy Fawkes, and children can be seen on the pavements, on the eve

of the 5th of November, asking “penny for the guy”. Having collected enough money, the children would

buy some

fireworks, and let them off while burning a dummy.

GuyGuy FawkesFawkes NightNight