“Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treasons and plot, I know of no reason why the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgotten”. Have you heard this? This goes as the traditional Guy Fawkes rhyme. Since the 17th century, various versions of the rhyme have survived in different parts of England. Every year on November 5th the UK celebrates Guy Fawkes Day to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes, an English soldier and a member among the group of Catholic conspirators. He tried to assassinate James I of England and planned an enormous explosion on 5 November 1605 but their plot was discovered and they were arrested, tortured and executed.
On this day, people celebrate by lighting large bonfires or organising firework displays and the celebration is also called bonfire nights. The fireworks remind the gunpowder Guy Fawkes hid in the cellar of Parliament. Also, people celebrate making homemade effigies resembling Fawkes. Torch-lit processions are also popular in main cities and towns. The celebration began in 1605 when the government enforced a public day to celebrate the failure by lighting bonfires. Until 1959 in the UK it was illegal to not celebrate Bonfire Night.
As this has become a tradition, children started wearing the mask as a taunt. They use the bonfires to cook potatoes wrapped in a foil and the traditional bonfire night food is Parkin cake. A version of cake containing oatmeal, treacle, ginger, and syrup.
In V for Vendetta, a 2016 movie directed by James McTeigue, the character V dons a Guy Fawkes mask and plots to blow up the parliament. The mask was an illustration of Fawkes and the story draws inspiration from the historical gunpowder plot. The image of Fawkes’ mask which later turned to be a template for the actual mask is owned by Warner Bros. This year people could gather to watch the sparkling skies of Victoria Park’s display. The event takes place all across the United Kingdom, from London’s Ally Pally’s Fireworks Festival to the annual Lewes Bonfire night parade.
