Remember Remember the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes Night

Bonfire Night, Firework Night or Guy Fawkes Night/Day 

Why fifth of November is such an important date for England and who was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes (April 1570 – 1606) was an English soldier and a member of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators.  He and the rest of the group, attempted to carry out the Gunpowder (Treason) Plot. Their aim was to assassinate King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the members of both houses of the Parliament of England with a huge explosionon during the State Opening of England's Parliament 5 November 1605. Their plans failed and the assassination was prevented by his arrest on the previous night.

After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. He did not, which led 13 young men to opt for violent action. 

The anonymous letter

The plot was revealed to the authorities in an anonymous letter sent on 26 October 1605. During a search of the House of Lords at about midnight on 4 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder, enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble. At the trial on 27 January 1606, eight of the survivors, including Fawkes, were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered (a penalty for men convicted of high treason). The discovery of the plot had a lasting effect on the treatment of the Catholics in England and its failure is commemorated to this day on Bonfire Night – 5 November.

Print of members of the Gunpowder Plot
 being hanged, drawn and quartered

Celebrations

Parliament met in January 1606 and passed the Thanksgiving Act. This made services and sermons commemorating the plot a regular annual feature each 5 November.

• A chant used to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot (Click to listen to a vocal piece by the pupils of Burntwood School, Tooting)

This chant was one of many that began to be used during the 19th century to accompany the collection of money and firewood on Bonfire Night. This is a tradition that thrives in British playgrounds, parks and streets to this day.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I see of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.

Traditional rhyme recited on Guy Fawkes Night, the 5th of November, when effigies of him are traditionally burned.

Variants: 

• Remember, remember, the 5th of November
  The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
  I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
  Should ever be forgot.   

• Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
  The Gunpowder Treason and plot.
  I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason
  Should ever be forgot.
• As quoted by Alan Moore in V for Vendetta.

Visit the following links for more information on the historic event and commemoration :

Parliament.uk

parliament.uk- guy fawkes

Gunpowder_Plot - wiki

Guy_Fawkes - wiki

Guy_Fawkes_Night-wiki