What exactly were we celebrating over the weekend (all the fireworks)?

Question

Somebody told me that we were celebrating...someone trying to blow up the Houses of Parlament anniversary, (as in V for Vendetta......) Was I told a load of bullshit?. Location: London.

Answer 1

It's a celebration in our history.
In 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of co-conspirators attempted to blow up King James 1st and the Houses of Parliament, in what has become known as the Gunpowder Plot. Before they were able to carry out their plan they were caught, and subsequently tortured and executed.

The bonfires are built and lit all over britain. Fawkes was burnt at the stake and this is what the bonfire represent children make a dummy with old clothes stuff with paper and this sits on the top of the bonfire. Has kids we used to stand outside pubs and shops with the dummy and ask passerby's for "penny for the guy" used to make a nice profit to go and buy sweets with. The fireworks have just become part of the celebrations. Treacle toffee is another sort of tradition. It's a great night.

Answer 2

Same here... There are many Pagans who get together for Samhain, though it's not public (as some of the locals get kind of freaked out over the rituals *Sigh*). It's always fun.. and the food is awesome. But I have already "celebrated" tonight... my first Winternights, solitary. Hope you have an awesome weekend. =)

Answer 3

Bonfire Night on Sunday.

The Anniversay of the failed attempt to blow up the government and the Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605 by Robert Catesby and his co-conspirators including Guy Fawkes.


How can anyone not know that? Have they stopped teaching basic history in schools?

Answer 4

Remember remember the 5th of November gunpowder treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder and treason should ever be forgot.

We were celebrating our islands history and heritage, and where we've got today - no matter that our government may be fundamentally ruled by the European union, or that we've reached an age of political correctness gone potty.
English heritage darling, English heritage.

Answer 5

Well strictly speaking it is only sposed to be 5th November...thats it..full stop...not1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th blah blah cos on the night of November 5th, throughout Britain, we commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy....but round here, its fireworks 24 bloody 7...been going off for weeks...and will be going off for weeks to come...sigh..I need peace...I need them to just ban the sale of fireworks to cretins.

Answer 6

Remember remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.
Guy Fawkes was a religious terrorist.
Not much has changed in 400 years then.

Answer 7

That we stopped an act of terrisiom. What do teach they at school these days? It is one the most important dates of our history.

Guy Fawkes was hung, drawn and quartered, and the men who escaped hid in a safe house, where they went to warm themselves by the fire, and still had gunpowder on them, and blew themselves up. Those who survived suffered terrible injuries.

Answer 8

Guy Fawkes Night

When Guy FAwkes and a group of other men tried to blow up the houses of parliament. They were eventually caught and killed guy fawkes was kept in the tower of london and then eventually killed but i think he was hung and not put on a bonfire.

Answer 9

The failure of Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Answer 10

A very English thing!
Funny how we know about your Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Boston Tea Party etc?
There is history outside of the U.S of A!