Why Do We Celebrate Bonfire Night????????

Question

Why do we celebrate an act of attempted terrorism?
In this modern era its totally hypocritical.
It would be wrong to celebrate 911 so why do it?

Answer 1

Guy Fawkes day is the celebration of the failure of his attempt to destroy Parliament. You misunderstand it.

Answer 2

We celebrate the fact that the plot was foiled and mainly Protestant Britain expressed its satisfaction that the Catholics had not succeeded in their dastardly machinations. Surprisingly enough, the tradition of Guy Fawkes-related bonfires actually began the very same year as the failed coup. The Plot was foiled in the night between the 4th and 5th of November 1605. Already on the 5th, agitated Londoners who knew little more than that their King had been saved, joyfully lit bonfires in thanksgiving. As years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate.


Soon, people began placing effigies onto bonfires, and fireworks were added to the celebrations. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes those of the Pope, graced the pyres. Still today, some communities throw dummies of both Guy Fawkes and the Pope on the bonfire (and even those of a contemporary politician or two), although the gesture is seen by most as a quirky tradition, rather than an expression of hostility towards the Pope.

In fact, the popularity of the celebration has nothing to do with its origins. It had long been an excuse to burn the rubbish which had accumulated in the garden during the autumn months (until bonfires were outlawed by local authorities in Britain). It was, and still is, an excuse to cheer up a particularly drab and chilly month. That's really the reason for celebrating it.

Answer 3

We celebrate the HALT to an attempted act of terrorisim by Guy Fawkes, we also celebrate the preservation of James I of Britian since he was to directly sit above the powder kegs, cause they had been put under his throne.

But in reality it was a a bit contrived, James's head of intellegence knew what was going on and prevented it at the last minuite to get himself a lot of praise from the King and promotion within the government. James I knew about it too.

Some people think that it is a bit anti-catholic but these people were a minority of radicals and the King James I was married to a Catholic, Anne of Denmark.

This act of prevention therefore would assure the King's English subjects that he was a true protestant despite his diplomatic efforts with major Catholic countries like France and Spain - so it was a good PR stunt by James as well. English Socitey during that time was heavily anti-catholic.

Therefore it has been stated in recent years that because of its anti-catholic nature - should we celebrate it in the 21st Century?

Answer 4

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RE:
Why Do We Celebrate Bonfire Night????????
Why do we celebrate an act of attempted terrorism?
In this modern era its totally hypocritical.
It would be wrong to celebrate 911 so why do it?

Answer 5

Because the plot failed, of course. Though I do know of a school in York which doesn't have an effigy because Guy Fawkes is an Old Boy.

I'm catholic and never realised for years as a child that GF was trying to bring about a catholic coup.

Don't you think that the US might celebrate 9/11 IF IT HAD BEEN AVERTED?

Answer 6

Afraid your a wee bit mixed up, it actually celebrates the fact that the plot was discovered, and burning the guy fawkes effigy on top is the celebratory part. How and why people get away with burning an effigy of a catholic on top of it is beyond me, you wouldn't get away with it if you put a muslim up there. I was brought up to regard bonfire night as totally anti catholic, but then sectarianism in the u.k. is still rife, and will get worse when Brown gets in.
Ladymoon, read a book or two as opposed to spending all your time living the life of an idiot, it catches up with you eventually. just 'cause your mum says something doesn't make it so, you think that the Catholic church, my church, is correct in "celebrating" bonfire night, a paganesque tradition? Ask the parish priest if he has the consent of the bishop. Anyway it IS a catholic, and we do live in a sectarian society. we just live with it. Now go read.

Answer 7

I think we actually celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes FAILED in his terrorism attempt.

Its a bit of a moot point anyway these days. People just celebrate it because its fun to get out i the cold autumn air and enjoy a bonfire and firework display. It no longer has any political significance.

Questor -

its not an effigy of a Catholic - to be honest most people decorate their "Guy" as a modern day figure these days - Blair or Bush or Osama. I doubt any British person would feel they were being anti-Catholic - the best firework display in my area is run by the local Catholic Church fergawdsake! My mum's Catholic and yet we always celebrated Bonfire night, its just an old custom in the UK. Get a clue before you make statements like that!!!

Answer 8

Because governments are naturally hated by most they take our money and give use very little in return while they make sure there pockets are well and truly filled . So when Someone takes a pot at them we all have a certain sympathy with them . but woe betide the foreigner who tries , also its a celebration that guy Fawkes failed

Answer 9

THE aprehension of fawkes as the cheif conspiritor to murder an elected parliment was an act worthy of celebration. but only if you were a parlimentarian. AS WE ELECT NOT BE A REPUBLIC.
it seems only a good celebration to continue, you may ask why we celibrate witchcraft on halloween. LF

Answer 10

It's like laughing at Guy Fawkes' failure so you know the little song,''Remeber remember the 5th of november the gun powder treason and plot, for I see no reaon why gun powder treason should ever be forgot."
I agree with you my friend but well I guess it's more of an entertainment when burning the Fawkes' doll more than an historical event crucial to remember. Good question, wish you luck.

Answer 11

attempted is the key word.
bonfire night is a celebration of stopping an act of religious (catholic) terrorism.
if we had foreknowledge of 9/11 and were able to stop it in advance, wouldn't that be a cause for celebration?