The History of Bonfire Night

By Susan Pheasey

Every year on 5th November children and adults in Great Britain get very excited because it is Bonfire Night. Some people call it Guy Fawkes Night.

Bonfire Night

People celebrate by making a guy, which is a bit like a scarecrow. They place the guy on the top of a big bonfire, they light the bonfire and set off fireworks.

Making a Guy

Why We Celebrate Bonfire NightThe reason Bonfire Night is celebrated is because over 400 years ago a man called Guy Fawkes and his friends plotted to get rid of King James 1. They decided to blow up the Palace of Westminster, which is also known as the Houses of Parliament. This is a place in London where our laws are decided.

They chose the 5th November 1605 because they knew the King would be visiting the Houses of Parliament for a special ceremony on that day.

We call it the Gunpowder Plot.

Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January

1606

Guy Fawkes Confession

Someone reported the men before they managed to blow it up.

Guy Fawkes was found in a cellar below the building with 36 barrels of gunpowder. He was arrested and taken to the Tower of London.

At first, he would not say why he was in the cellar but eventually he confessed.

This is part of one of the confessions made by Guy Fawkes

Celebrating

People all around London were really pleased that the Houses of Parliament had not been blown up and their King had not been killed.

To celebrate, people lit great big bonfires every year on the night of 5th November.

Most people go to an organised event where they gather around a very large bonfire.

Nowadays people celebrate by lighting bonfires just like they did 400 years ago.

Nowadays

Firework Display

And watch extravagant firework displays…

Sparklers

and light sparklers.

Food Eaten on Bonfire Night

People also celebrate by eating nice food such as baked potatoes, toffee apples, Parkin cake and treacle toffee.

Treacle Toffee

Parkin Cake

Toffee AppleBaked Potato

We say a special rhyme to help us remember the 5th of November:

Remember, remember the fifth of November, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot.I know of no reason, Why Gunpowder Treason, Should ever be forgot.

A Rhyme to Remember

Stay Safe

Stay safe on Bonfire Night:

•Wear a coat or jacket•Wear a hat•Wear gloves•Wear sensible shoes