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Guy Fawkes Night
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Fifth of November" redirects here. For the date, see
November 5.
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as
Guy Fawkes Day,
Bonfire Night and
Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in
Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when
Guy Fawkes, a member of the
Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding
explosives the plotters had placed beneath the
House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that
King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit
bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the
Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was known, became
the predominant English state commemoration, but as it carried strong
religious overtones it also became a focus for
anti-Catholic sentiment.
Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of
popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt
effigies of popular hate-figures, such as the
pope.
Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging
for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes and 5 November gradually became
known as Guy Fawkes Day. Towns such as
Lewes and
Guildford
were in the 19th century scenes of increasingly violent class-based
confrontations, fostering traditions those towns celebrate still, albeit
peaceably. In the 1850s changing attitudes resulted in the toning down
of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric, and the Observance of 5th
November Act was repealed in 1859. Eventually the violence was dealt
with, and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable
social commemoration, although lacking much of its original focus. The
present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised
events, centred on a bonfire and extravagant
firework displays.
Settlers exported Guy Fawkes Night to
overseas colonies, including some in North America, where it was known
as Pope Day. Those festivities died out with the onset of the
American Revolution. Claims that Guy Fawkes Night was a Protestant replacement for older customs like
Samhain are disputed, although another old celebration,
Halloween, has lately increased in popularity, and according to some writers, may threaten the continued observance of 5 November.
