November 5
GUY FAWKES DAY
The year was 1605. Eleven men, led by one Guy Fawkes, came together to find a way to return England to the Catholic faith. It seems that King James had been sending Jesuits into exile. The conspirators plotted to kill the King and all members of the Parliament by blowing up the Houses of Parliament on November 5. They had amassed 36 barrels of gunpowder and placed the barrels under the Houses of Parliament.
The plot was discovered on November 4th, and the conspirators were arrested, tried and convicted. The following January, Guy Fawkes and seven other surviving members of the group were beheaded. Their heads were then displayed on the spikes of London Bridge.
The following November 5th (1606), the same Parliament Guy Fawkes and his men had attempted to annihilate, established a national day of Thanksgiving. Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night has been celebrated every year since with fireworks and the burning of Guy Fawkes’ effigy. The effigies are referred to as ‘Guys’ and as they are burned, the revelers repeat this verse:
Remember, Remember the Fifth of November
Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
should ever be forgot.Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes twas his intent
To blow up the houses of Parliament,
With three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow.But by God’s providence he was catched,
With darkened lantern and slow burning match.
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, ring bells ring,
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God saved the King!Almost four hundred years later, some wonder whether the holiday is in honor of Guy Fawkes’ attempt at removing the government, or in celebration of his execution.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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