After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.

A small group took shape, under the leadership of Robert Catesby. Catesby felt that violent action was warranted. Indeed, the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.

To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.

But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. Was the letter real?

The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.

Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.

It's unclear if the conspirators would ever have been able to pull off their plan to blow up the Parliament even if they had not been betrayed. Some have suggested that the gunpowder itself was so old as to be useless. Since Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators got caught before trying to ignite the powder, we'll never know for certain.

Even for the period which was notoriously unstable, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord for the people of England. In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster. Nowadays, the Queen and Parliament still observe this tradition.

On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Some of the English have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government.

Thanks for posting this, Philip.

I had my fireworks display with my family last night but I can see the lights in the air through my window right now. I love Bonfire night.

As from the above, originally the date for "the State Opening of Parliament" was to be October 3rd, but was delayed due to the plague in London.

So the rhyme/song should be "Remember remember the 3rd of October".

As from the above, originally the date for "the State Opening of Parliament" was to be October 3rd, but was delayed due to the plague in London.

So the rhyme/song should be "Remember remember the 3rd of October".


Parliament thinks they have problems these days, lol. They were dealing with direct anarchy and plagues back then, lol.

Parliament thinks they have problems these days, lol. They were dealing with direct anarchy and plagues back then, lol.
I believe there were a touch of fireworks in Parliament last Thursday night involving Labour MP Paul Farrelly

I believe there were a touch of fireworks in Parliament last Thursday night involving Labour MP Paul Farrelly


Yes, he and MP Phil Woolas are doing what we expect of all politicians...stabbing each other in the back.

Yes, he and MP Phil Woolas are doing what we expect of all politicians...stabbing each other in the back.
...he had a John Prescott moment.

...he had a John Prescott moment.


Yes, he had a brawl with a newspaper vendor in a government bar and it must have been something because he left him 'bloodied and bruised'. Ironically, I just read that Farrelly is an outspoken critic of anti-social behaviour.  ;D

Yes, he had a brawl with a newspaper vendor in a government bar and it must have been something because he left him 'bloodied and bruised'. Ironically, I just read that Farrelly is an outspoken critic of anti-social behaviour.  ;D
Typical for a MP.

Typical for a MP.


Crooks in suits I call them.

Guy Fawkes' first name is the reason that any male person is today known as a "guy".  The tradition of burning Fawkes in effigy came from the following:

The scarecrow type character that was to be burned is normally created by children, from old clothes, newspapers, and a mask. The figure to be burned became know as the "guy".  During the 19th century, "guy" came to mean an oddly dressed person, but in American English it lost any pejorative connotation, and was used to refer to any male person.  Being that my first name is Guy I learned how the term "guy" came to be quite some time ago. 

And before you ask, Howard, no I do not dress oddly.  And no Howard, the definition of effigy is not in reference to the sixth and seventh letters of the Italian alphabet.  :)

Guy Fawkes' first name is the reason that any male person is today known as a "guy".  The tradition of burning Fawkes in effigy came from the following:

The scarecrow type character that was to be burned is normally created by children, from old clothes, newspapers, and a mask. The figure to be burned became know as the "guy".  During the 19th century, "guy" came to mean an oddly dressed person, but in American English it lost any pejorative connotation, and was used to refer to any male person.  Being that my first name is Guy I learned how the term "guy" came to be quite some time ago. 

And before you ask, Howard, no I do not dress oddly.  And no Howard, the definition of effigy is not in reference to the sixth and seventh letters of the Italian alphabet.  :)



...also known as Guido Fawkes.

...also known as Guido Fawkes.



Yes Fawkes was known as Guido when he fought with the Spanish - What I read about Guido Fawkes is that he acquired that name when he fought for the Pope.  My high school Spanish teacher called everyone by their Spanish first name - he called me Guido.  Guy in Italian is Gaetano - That was my Grandfather's name for whom I am named after.  So much for accuracy on the internet.