Bonfire night

In england on the 5th of November, we celebrate bonfire night


The history of bonfire night

In 1605 Guy Fawkes and a group of twelve other men decided that they were fed up of living under the protestant rule of the country. They were unable to practice their religion and had to do so in secret, they were also made to attend Protestant church services on Sundays and holy days. During these days many Roman Catholics felt that they were unfairly treated.

Guy Fawkes and a group of men lead by Robert Catesby decided that the best way to overcome the current ruler of the country, King James I, would be to blow up the houses of parliament, where the laws that governed England were made.

The men decided that they were going to places barrels of gun powder in the cellar and blow up the houses of parliament when the King and members of parliament were inside.

Guy Fawkes was the unlucky member of the group that had to keep watch in the cellar. He also had the job of lighting the fuse.

However, on November 5th 1605, soldiers found Guy Fawkes hiding in the cellar and arrested him. He was taken to the tower of London to be tortured and executed.


On the same night that the gunpowder plot was discovered, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, the night has become known as bonfire night.


Now on bonfire night people light bonfires, burn a model of guy fawkes and set off fireworks to celebrate that the gunpowder plot did not suceed.


We also have traditional bonfire night foods. These are parkin cake, bonfire toffee and toffee apples.

To play the gunpowder plot game, click here

We also have a bonfire night rhyme:

' remember, remember ,

the fifth of November,

gunpowder, treason and plot.

We see no reason, why gunpowder treason,

should ever be forgot'