Today, in UK, we celebrate Guy Fawkes day otherwise known as Bonfire Night. On this day, in 1605, the Catholic "gunpowder plot" to assassinate King James I was discovered and Guy Fawkes was arrested and put on trial for treason. The conspirators had placed barrels of gunpowder in the cellars under the Houses of Parliament. Thankfully the barrels were discovered before they could be detonated. The gunpowder plot
Those conspirators who weren't killed on capture were put on trial, found guilty and then hung, drawn and quartered! This was a standard punishment for high treason.
Since then British people have lit bonfires every November 5th in celebration of the fact that Parliament and the King had been saved. There is usually an effigy (чучело) of Guy Fawkes atop the fire. I remember when I was young we would make a dummy and wheel it around in a pram, asking local residents for "a penny for the guy". Enough pennies meant we could buy fireworks to let off around the bonfire on November 5th. Potatoes, and sometimes sausages, were put into the fire on long sticks to roast and then eat.
Here are some more facts and figures about British traditions relating to November 5th.
Here is a game to test your knowledge of the gunpowder plot!
Here is a you tube clip showing the fireworks display at Battersea Park in London last year.
Those conspirators who weren't killed on capture were put on trial, found guilty and then hung, drawn and quartered! This was a standard punishment for high treason.
Since then British people have lit bonfires every November 5th in celebration of the fact that Parliament and the King had been saved. There is usually an effigy (чучело) of Guy Fawkes atop the fire. I remember when I was young we would make a dummy and wheel it around in a pram, asking local residents for "a penny for the guy". Enough pennies meant we could buy fireworks to let off around the bonfire on November 5th. Potatoes, and sometimes sausages, were put into the fire on long sticks to roast and then eat.
Here are some more facts and figures about British traditions relating to November 5th.
Here is a game to test your knowledge of the gunpowder plot!
Here is a you tube clip showing the fireworks display at Battersea Park in London last year.
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