Greetings and peace from the USA...
2007-11-03 14:05:06 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
...And,also--when is it?Is it like the last big party before Winter hits?!
2007-11-03 14:09:04 · update #1
where we light bonfires and fireworks
2007-11-03 14:08:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depending on your perspective, it's a celebration of the capture of one of the UK's first political terrorists on the 5th of November 1605 AD. A chap called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the UK houses of Parliament.
On the 5th November we light bonfires and set off fireworks as part of the tradition.
When you look at the bunch of clowns in charge these days many of us wish he had been successful in the attempt.
2007-11-03 14:18:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anchor Cranker 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's also known as Guy Fawkes Night.
It's an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Roman Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
It is primarily marked in the United Kingdom, but also in former British colonies including New Zealand, parts of Canada, and parts of the British Caribbean.[citation needed] Bonfire Night was also common in Australia until the 1980s[citation needed], but it was held on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June.
Festivities are centred around the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires.
2007-11-03 14:09:28 · answer #3 · answered by Meeeee! 5 · 4⤊ 3⤋
It is to celebrate when Guy Fawkes was captured when trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But the lighting of fires could go back as far as Sahmain, which later became Halloween, when fires were lit in the evening along with jack o'lanterns. In May at Beltane fires are lit in the morning, or at least it is a morning celebration at sunrise.
2007-11-03 14:33:24 · answer #4 · answered by Zheia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bonfire night is November 5th and marks the anniversary of an attempt, known as the Gunpowder Plot, in 1605 by a group of Roman Catholics who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I in order to destroy Protestant rule in England.
The plot was led by Robert Catesby and a co-conspirator, Guy Fawkes, who was an expert in explosives was left to set off the charges during the state opening of Parliament.
Following a tip off a search of Parliament was made and on November 5th, 1605, a party of armed men led by Thomas Knyvet found Guy Fawkes setting the charges.
Guy Fawkes was arrested and confessed under torture and at his trial was condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. At his execution Guy Fawkes cheated the later stages of this gruesome method of execution by jumping from the gallows and breaking his neck.
Being hanged, drawn and quartered involved being hanged by the neck until nearly dead, then having your stomach cut open and your intestines drawn out and then being dismembered while still alive.
On bonfire night a stuffed effigy of Guy Fawkes is usually burnt on top of a bonfire.
2007-11-03 14:23:01 · answer #5 · answered by RPG Pro 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is usually celebrated the Saturday before the 5th of November, when i looked out of my bedroom window tonight the sights were amazing. You can see about 50 miles towards York and Thirsk (UK) and there was about 25 firework displays i could see miles around, they were so small, and quite serial! I suppose it is the equivilant to the 4th of July, also celebrated here as we live near the American base at Menwith Hill, there are many Americans living close by.
One of my first memories was of firework night, and sparklers and a catherine wheel on the fench
xx
2007-11-03 14:20:19 · answer #6 · answered by °º© r u b y l i g h t s ©º° 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it's to celebrate the attempt of trying to blow up the houses of Parliament in London hundred of yrs ago by a bloke called Guy Fawkes and his gang. we also make a mannequin and burn that on the bonfire and it's called a guy! so i guess that tells you what happened to him!
2007-11-03 14:13:40 · answer #7 · answered by lady p 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
bonfire and fireworks to celebrate the foiled plot of Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the houses of Parliament.
its on the 5th November, but many parties are tonight being the closest weekend.
2007-11-03 14:09:26 · answer #8 · answered by L 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
5th November (Guy Fawkes night)
Guy Fawkes atttempted to detonate a gunpowder bomb (1800 pounds, in 36 barrels) at the state opening of parliament on 5th November, 1605. If he had succeeded he would have murdered King James I of England (VI of Scotland) and many MPs.
He was caught in the act, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered.
Every year on this date in England, we burn his effigy and celebrate with fireworks.
2007-11-03 14:12:27 · answer #9 · answered by Phil McCracken 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's in commemoration of Guy Fawkes and his allies, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. They didn't succeed and I've no idea why they commemorate it. It was almost a terrorist act, when you think of it.
2007-11-03 14:10:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
All the above answers are very good, but they do miss out one tiny detail...
that the whole bonfire night thing is almost exclusively English
2007-11-03 14:16:46 · answer #11 · answered by Blathers 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋