Bonfire Night or 'Guy Fawkes Night', celebrated on November 5th, is one of the largest annual British cultural celebrations. Brits in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as some members of the commonwealth, light sparklers, set off fireworks and burn large bonfires, often featuring an effigy of the conspirator Guy Fawkes.
Remember, remember,
the Fifth of November
Gunpowder treason and plot
We see no reason
why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
This is the most well-known verse from the iconic British folk poem, dating back to the 17th century, depicting the events of the 1605 gunpowder plot, foiled before the conspirators could blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on November 5th, 1605.
Following the prevention of an attack on the Houses of Parliament in London, one of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes, was executed and became the figurehead of the gunpowder plot.
What was the Gunpowder Plot?
The Gunpowder Plot was a plan by a Catholic group, led by Robert Catesby, to blow up the London Houses of Parliament while King James I and his Protestant ministers would be in attendance.
Following King Charles' coronation in 1603, he pushed a far more anti-catholic rhetoric than was expected, motivating Catesby to plan an attack on the king. He recruited fellow Catholics to his plan including Thomas Wintour, John Wright, Thomas Percy, and the influential and very charismatic Guido 'Guy' Fawkes. A further eight men were recruited to the cause by Fawkes and they all worked together to plan the attack.
The plan was to place over thirty barrels of gunpowder underneath the Houses of Parliament and set it off when the King was in session. The final part of the plan involved Guy Fawkes lighting the fuse and escaping across the River Thames by boat before it exploded. They believed that they could then capture Princess Elizabeth and Fawkes would then escape to continental Europe to inform influential Catholics that the king was dead and that a Catholic could be inserted on the English throne.
How did the plan fail?
For the plan to succeed it would have likely involved Catholic members of parliament being killed in the explosion. Some of the conspirators were concerned about killing fellow Catholics and so they wanted to warn some of them not to be at the Houses of Parliament on November 5th. On October 26th, 1605, William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle (brother-in-law of one of the conspirators), received an 'anonymous' letter warning him not to attend parliament, saying "they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament; and yet they shall not see who hurts them".
Word spread of this letter and many of the conspirators became scared and suggested that the plan should be abandoned, but Catesby wanted to press ahead.
On the night of November 4th, 1605, Guy Fawkes was found guarding barrels of gunpowder in the undercroft, beneath the houses of parliament, and was apprehended. News of his arrest was spread and many of the conspirators fled the city. Fawkes was interrogated under torture and revealed the details of the plan and the names of the conspirators. Some of the members ran away, some gave themselves up and Catesby was tracked down and shot. Catesby did not immediately die from the shot and was found by the king's men clutching a picture of the Virgin Mary as he died. His head was taken back to London to be displayed outside the Parliament building. Fawkes had been planned to be hung, drawn and quartered, but he died before then, jumping off the scaffolding to avoid the execution.
Remember, Remember the Fifth of November
Guy Fawkes may have been sentenced to hanging, and not burning, but all across the United Kingdom, and certain commonwealth countries, British people (and members of the commonwealth) celebrate by lighting the effigies of Guy Fawkes on top of large bonfires, as well as lighting fireworks. This is largely a communal event, often hosted by communities and local councils, and hundreds of people will gather to enjoy the celebrations. The tradition has been maintained for around four centuries and whilst at one point had sectarian origins is now widely celebrated by those of many backgrounds.
The below English folk poem has no exact origin but British people have been singing it since the early 17th century and the tradition is maintained to this day.
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!