"Remember, remember!
the fifth of November!
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!" (English Folk Verse).
Bonfire Night is also known as Fireworks' Night or Guy Fawkes' Night. It's a British tradition dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I.
In 1605 King James I was on the throne. He was very unpopular with Roman Catholics. Some of them planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November of that year, when the King was going to open Parliament. Under the House of Lords they had stored 36 barrels of gun powder, which were to be exploded by a man called Guy Fawkes. He was discovered, arrested and later hanged.
Since that day the British traditionally celebrate 5th November by burning a dummy on a bonfire, whilst at the same time letting off fireworks.This dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen on the pavements before 5th November saying " Penny for the guy", then they buy some fireworks.
