Guy Fawkes Night

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual celebration (but not a public holiday) on the evening of the 5th of November in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, some parts of the USA, Newfoundland, and formerly Australia. It celebrates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, in which a group of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on the night when Protestant King James I was within its walls - the evening of 5th November 1605. Some believe the proximity of the event to the pre-Christian festival of Samhain Eve and Halloween are notable, but it is generally agreed that this is a coincidence.

Related Topics:
Public holiday - 5th of November - United Kingdom - New Zealand - USA - Newfoundland - Australia - Gunpowder Plot - Catholic - Houses of Parliament - London - Protestant - King James I - 1605 - Samhain Eve - Halloween

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The celebrations, which take place in cities, towns and villages across the country, involve fireworks displays and the building of a bonfire, upon which is burnt an effigy representing the most famous of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes. Children build popular or humorous dummies and beg for money with the chant "penny for the guy" (the latter tradition is no longer as popular as it once was). The night is closely associated with the popular rhyme which begins:

Related Topics:
Fireworks - Bonfire - Guy Fawkes

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:Remember, remember the fifth of November,

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:Gunpowder, treason and plot,

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:I see no reason why gunpowder treason

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:Should ever be forgot.

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(For the full text of the rhyme, see the article on the Gunpowder Plot).

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Despite the nature of the events commemorated, little political or sectarian significance is attached to Bonfire Night in modern times. The later verses of Remember, remember..., which express violent anti-Catholic sentiment, are not widely recalled. Bonfire night is now just as celebrated within Britain's Catholic communities. The once common practice of burning effigies of the Pope is now largely discontinued (except at Lewes, where the night has additional significance).

Related Topics:
Sectarian - Pope - Lewes

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In recent years, celebrations have often been held on nights other than November 5th, sometimes even several weeks away from the exact date. If the celebrations are held on another night it is usually on the next Friday or Saturday night after November 5th so that the celebrations do not interfere with the working week. To celebrate an event on the weekend after the anniversary of the date is quite common in the UK, for example the public holiday for May Day is always held on the Monday following May 1.

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In the weeks leading up to Guy Fawkes Night, fireworks become widely available throughout the UK. A large number of injuries are caused at this time of year by the irresponsible use of fireworks. Recent years have seen increasing calls, from emergency service members amongst others, for a ban on the public sale of fireworks, allowing their use only at licensed displays.

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Less drastically, some have suggested that the use of fireworks should be permitted only on Bonfire Night itself or on the closest Saturday to that date. To this end, the Fireworks Regulations 2004 came into force on August 7 2004. This specifically prohibits detonation of fireworks after 11pm except on specific days, restricts the sale of fireworks to certain windows during the year, and prohibits their sale to minors.

Related Topics:
Fireworks Regulations 2004 - August 7 - 2004

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