Guy Fawkes Night facts for kids
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night or Firework Night, is a special day celebrated every year on November 5th. It is mostly celebrated in Great Britain.
This day remembers events from November 5th, 1605. On that day, a man named Guy Fawkes was caught guarding explosives. These explosives were hidden under the House of Lords in London. Guy Fawkes and his group, called the Gunpowder Plotters, wanted to blow up the building. They hoped to harm King James I and the government.
When King James I survived this dangerous plan, people in London lit bonfires to celebrate. Months later, a law was made called the Observance of 5th November Act 1605. This law made November 5th a public holiday to give thanks that the plot failed.
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How Guy Fawkes Night Started
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
The Gunpowder Plot was a secret plan by a group of English Catholics. They were unhappy with how Catholics were treated in England. Their goal was to get rid of King James I and his government. They planned to do this by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening. This is when the King and many important people would be there.
Guy Fawkes was in charge of the explosives. He was found in the cellars under the House of Lords just before the plot could happen. His capture stopped the attack. This event led to the yearly celebration of Guy Fawkes Night.
Early Celebrations and Traditions
After the plot failed, people celebrated the King's safety. They lit bonfires and set off fireworks. Over time, these celebrations became a tradition. People would also burn effigies, which are dummy figures, of Guy Fawkes on the bonfires. This was a way to remember his failed plot.
Guy Fawkes Night Around the World
Celebrations in Other Countries
Pope_DayGuy Fawkes Night traditions also traveled to other parts of the world. English settlers took the celebration to their colonies, including some in North America. There, it was sometimes called Pope Day. However, these celebrations mostly stopped in North America when the American Revolution began.
Safety Concerns and Bans
In some places, like most Australian states, Guy Fawkes Night was banned in the 1980s. This was mainly due to safety concerns. Fireworks and large bonfires can be dangerous if not handled carefully. This ban helped to keep people safe.
Related Pages
Images for kids
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An effigy of Fawkes, burnt on 5 November 2010 at Billericay
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Revellers in Lewes, 5 November 2010
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The restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1850 provoked a strong reaction. This sketch is from an issue of Punch, printed in November that year.
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A group of children in Caernarfon, November 1962, stand with their Guy Fawkes effigy. The sign reads "Penny for the Guy" in Welsh.
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Spectators gather around a bonfire at Himley Hall near Dudley, on 6 November 2010
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Spectators watch a fireworks display in November 2014
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1768 colonial American commemoration of 5 November 1605
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See also
In Spanish: Noche de Guy Fawkes para niños
