Guy Fawkes 101

Bonfire night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, takes place every year on 5 November. It marks the anniversary of the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, in which 13 men including Guy Fawkes plotted to blow up the House of Parliament in London. The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt to assassinate King James I of England during the Opening of Parliament in November 1605.

The plan was organised by Robert Catesby, a devout English Catholic who hoped to kill the Protestant King James and establish Catholic rule in England. The Catholic plotters had intended to assassinate Protestant king James I and his parliament. Celebrating that the king had survived, people lit bonfires around London. Months later, the Observance of 5th November Act mandated an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure

Fun facts about bonfire night:

1. Was it illegal not to celebrate Bonfire Night?

Until 1959, it was illegal not to celebrate Bonfire Night in Britain. During this time, there was only one place in the UK that refused to mark the failed attempt. Out of respect for their alumnus, St Peter's School in York, where Guy Fawkes attended, was excused from burning a photo of its former pupil.

2. It’s still possible to see the lantern Guy Fawkes was carrying when he was caught in the Houses of Parliament

Housed today in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is said to be the lantern that Guy Fawkes himself was carrying when he was arrested in the cellars of Parliament. The famous object was given to the University of Oxford by Robert Heywood and then was transferred to the Ashmolean Museum, where it can still be seen today.

3. The Yeomen of the Guard still search the Houses of Parliament…

Just in case anybody tries to take a leaf out of Guy Fawkes’ book this Bonfire Night!

4. The village of Ottery St. Mary sees a time-honoured tradition in celebration of Bonfire Night

This unique tradition during Bonfire Night sees the locals of the East Devon village taking turns carrying large barrels of burning tar on their shoulders in celebration – perhaps not one to try at home!

5. Fireworks were invented by accident

It was a Chinese cook in the 10th century who accidentally invented fireworks by mixing the common ingredients found in the kitchen back then: sulphur, charcoal and a salt substitute. The mixture was set alight and resulted in colourful flames.

6. The 36 barrels of gunpowder would have destroyed how we see London today

If successful, Guy Fawkes and his accomplices would have completely destroyed the building, as well as caused damage to buildings that surround the Houses of Parliament and transformed how we see London today. Research tells us that the blast of 2,500kg of gunpowder would have destroyed Westminster Hall and the Abbey. Ironically, in 1834 the cellar where the gunpowder was stored was destroyed in an accidental fire.

7. Guy Fawkes has an island named after him

The uninhabited island is located to the northwest of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands, called Isla Guy Fawkes or Guy Fawkes Island. To this day, no one knows why the island claimed the name; maybe it was where he planned to escape to…