Monday 5 November 2007

Guy Fawkes Day

It is November 5th, and people in the U.K are celebrating a holiday called Guy Fawkes Day.  Although, there were many celebrations over the weekend.



Nearly four hundred years ago, in 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes tried to blow up a government building. He wanted to kill King James I and the king's leaders. Fawkes was one of a group of men who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly.



The king and his leaders were to meet on November 5th. So, the group placed barrels of gunpowder in a cellar beneath the building where the king and others were to meet. Guy Fawkes was to light the fuse that would set off the explosion. But the plot was discovered before he had a chance to do this. The king was saved, and Fawkes was hanged.


Ever since, Guy Fawkes Day has been a time for merrymaking. It is a holiday that both children and grown-ups enjoy. The best part comes as darkness falls. Then, straw dummies are tossed into huge bonfires. Amid cries of glee, firecrackers pop and "the Guy" goes up in a blaze of fire.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

(((((((((((((((((HUGSTOYOU))))))))))))))))I always like reading stuff from other countrys.Thanks for sharing this.Have a nice dya.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for explaining the holiday for us.
Missie

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm..yes thanks for the explanation.  I had no idea what it was all about.  Linda in Washington state  

Anonymous said...

We went to a Bonfire Leigh but it was so cold windy and miserable I came home ~ but watched the fireworks from the window in the nice warmth of my room ~ hope you had a good Guy Fawkes night ~ Ally x