Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder treason and plot
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
In 1605, Guy Fawkes (also known as Guido) and a group of conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament to kill the King, James I and the entire Parliament.
The conspirators were angered because King James had been exiling Jesuits from England. The plotters wanted to wrest power away from the king and return the country to the Catholic faith. Today, they would be known as extremists.
However, in an attempt to protect a friend in the House of Lords, one of the group members sent an anonymous letter warning his friend to stay away from the parliament.
The warning letter reached the King, and the conspirators were caught, tortured and executed. Guy Fawkes and his friends had rolled 36 barrels of gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament.
And on 5 November 1982, a group of young English gentlemen (could that be me on the extreme right?) celebrated the Falklands’ Victory and the sinking of the General Belgrano.
Why do we celebrate a failed plot with fireworks? 🤔
I never knew the connection between Guy Fawkes and the Jesuits. Thanks for the info!
Isn’t it ironic how Guy Fawkes has become such a symbol of rebellion? 🔥
These images really capture the spirit of Guy Fawkes’ Night. Great article!
Wasn’t Guy Fawkes actually caught red-handed? What a blunder! 😂
How many barrels of gunpowder did they actually use?
I’ve always wondered, do other countries have similar holidays?
This article made me nostalgic for bonfire nights of my childhood!
I wish there was more info on how the celebration evolved over the years.
Why do we still burn effigies? Seems a bit medieval, doesn’t it? 😅