Guy Fawkes Night
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Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain. It involves bonfires and fireworks displays and marks the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a conspiracy by a group of English Catholics to assassinate the Protestant King James I and replace him with a Catholic head of state.

Guy Fawkes was a member of the Gunpowder Plot. He was born in York in 1570 and raised Protestant, but later converted to Catholicism. Fawkes, an explosives expert, was caught guarding a cache of explosives placed beneath the House of Lords in the early hours of 5 November 1605.

Catholics had hoped for more religious tolerance under James I, but were disappointed by his continued persecution of them. The plotters hoped to assassinate the King and install a Catholic head of state.

Fawkes was imprisoned and tortured in the Tower of London. He and the surviving conspirators were tried and sentenced to death for treason. On 31 January 1606 they were hanged, drawn and quartered in Westminster.

Immediately following Fawkes' arrest, the King's Council allowed the public to celebrate his survival with bonfires. In January 1606, Parliament passed the Observance of 5th November Act, mandating an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.

Early celebrations were largely religious, with strong anti-Catholic sentiment. By the 18th century, celebrations became more raucous and focused on burning effigies of the Pope and other figures. The 19th century saw increased violence, particularly in Lewes and Guildford. In the 20th century, with increased safety regulations and a decline in anti-Catholic sentiment, the day became a more enjoyable social commemoration. Modern celebrations are often organized events run by charities and other organizations, with bonfires, fireworks, and food.

Originally, the "Guy" was an effigy of Guy Fawkes. Children would create these effigies and beg for "a penny for the Guy" to buy fireworks. While the practice of begging has declined, the burning of a "Guy" on the bonfire remains a central part of the celebration.

One tradition that survives is the ceremonial search of the cellars of the Palace of Westminster by the Yeomen of the Guard before the State Opening of Parliament. This tradition is a direct result of the Gunpowder Plot. Other traditions, like the flaming tar barrels in Ottery St Mary and the elaborate bonfire celebrations in Lewes, have evolved over time and incorporate unique local customs.