what is a bonfire night?

Question

when is it?
what is the goodess of it?
who make this?
where is this held?

Answer 1

It's a British thing
Held November 5th every year, and it is to commemorate the death of this bloke called Guy Fawkes. Him and his pals hatched a plot to blow up the houses of parliment, but their plans were scuppered. They were caught. They were hung, drawn and quartered and finally burnt on top of a bloody great bonfire. Ever since us morbid Brits have celebrated by making an effigy of Guy and having our own fires where children and adults are allowed to play with pretty dangerous fireworks, there are several fatal injuries every year.
It's a hoot!!

Answer 2

Bonfires were beacons which were lit as a signal. So the lighting of Bonfires does not actually celebrate the death of Guido Fawkes it commemorates the foiling of a plot and the safety of the King. Fawkes' execution did not take place on Nov 5th and it was not by burning. The tradition is being lost through organized displays as kids used to build bonfires for their local communities and the neighbours would share what they had - it was a community thing in Northern England at any rate. As a tradition it is mainly celebrated in England rather than other parts of the UK and politically it was the 9/11 of its day and was used as an excuse for the legitimate persecution of Catholics.

Answer 3

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a failed attempt by a group of provincial English Catholics to kill King James I of England, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in a single attack by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening. The conspirators had then planned to abduct the royal children, not present in Parliament, and incite a revolt in the Midlands.
On 5 November each year, people in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and regions including New Zealand, South Africa, much of the independent and dependent British West Indies, the Canadian island Newfoundland, and formerly Australia celebrate the failure of the plot on what is known as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night or Plot Night; although the political meaning of the festival has grown to be very much secondary today.

Answer 4

On 5th November 1605, a group of catholic militants decided to blow up the British Parliament but thanks to a letter sent to a someone who was in danger, the plot was discovered and the plotters executed.

Contrary to popular believe, the leader of the band was not Guido (Guy) Fawkes but actually Robert Catesby. It was Guy who was caught when he was checking the explosives in the cellar.

On 5th November every year, we traditionally make a 'guy'; an effigy of Fawkes, place it on top of a pyre and set fire to it. When I was young, that was the only time you generally would hear fireworks, now they are going off from mid October onwards.

Before the day, children would go 'guying'. They take the guy door to door and ask for a 'penny for the guy'.

Traditional games are bobbing for apples, Guy's Head (sticky apples on a string that you have to bite into without using your hands) etc.

As far as I know, there is no goddess of Bonfire Night.

Answer 5

In the UK, Bonfire Night is on November 5th. You make a really big fire, let off fireworks & eat hotdogs & burgers. It commemorates an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in about the 16th Century. A man called Guido Fawkes (usually called Guy Fawkes) & some accomplices filled the cellar with gunpowder but their plot was discovered & they were all executed. Sometimes, a dummy "Guy" is placed on top of the fire & burned, although I think they actually executed him by cutting off his head.

Answer 6

Aswell as being a common name for Guy Fawkes nght in the UK (as described is several other answers) it is also a name sometimes given to eBeltane, the pagan festival of early summer, when tradionally bonfires are lit, for people to dance around (among other things). There is no specific Goddes, but Goddesses asociated with fertility and maiden (and occasionally mother) Goddresses are honoured, as well as young manifestations of the God. In pagan lore it is associated with the great right.

The fires are a symbol of the increasing warmth and therefore fertility as we go into summer, they light the way and burn negative energies etc lingering fromt he past winter.

Answer 7

As well as being an opportunity to burn Catholics at the stake in Nov without being prosocuted we in Britian are blessed with lots of pagan types (mainly in the South West) who get very excited when Spring comes around ( I think they all dance by the light of a silvery moon) and talk to fairies,elves and other drug induced creatures .to celebrate this they all head to the Tor in Somerset and light bonfires

Answer 8

In the state I am from which is Mississippi Bonfire is the night before the Homecoming game. They light up this big fire and the band plays and the cheerleaders cheer. Just like a big pep really!

Answer 9

Bonfier night is also part of the May Day celebration for the return of Spring. In the past, it was used as part of a fertility celebration and on that night (in olden days) it was a great party in celebration of the Union of the God and Goddess and a blessing for good crops in the coming year. On that night, it was permissable (and encouraged) to have the freedom to have sex with anyone. Children produced from a mating on May Day/night were considered to be "gifted" and special.

Answer 10

"Well said Alberto" above is essentially correct, Guy Fawks was executed by the old Hung Drawn and Quartered ( as in Braveheart) and it is an opportunely for weapons manufacturer's to make a bit more profit.