Traditions around the world: Guy Fawkes Night in the UK
The Day of the Dead in Mexico. The Festival of Light in Thailand. Halloween in the US. And Valentine’s Day - almost everywhere ♥️. There are traditions all over the world that punctuate the year with wonderful community celebrations. And one of the biggest in the UK is Guy Fawkes Night - also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night.
It’s a night when the nation remembers the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 - a failed attempt to assassinate King James 1, during the Opening of Parliament. In this article we delve deeper into the plot and look at how Bonfire Night is celebrated throughout the UK today. If you’re ever lucky enough to be in the UK on this night - you can expect the smell of bonfires in the evening air, and see the skies light up with a blaze of dazzling fireworks.
Table of contents
WorldRemit Content Team
• 3 mins read • Updated
When is Bonfire Night celebrated?
Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot….
Children’s nursery rhyme
There you have it - Bonfire Night is on the 5th November. You can’t forget now!
What’s the history of Guy Fawkes Night?
Following the Reformation of 1534 in Henry V111’s reign and England’s break with the Roman Catholic church - the country had for a long time been riven by strife between the Protestants and Catholics.
But with the arrival of the new King James 1 to the throne in 1603, Catholics across the country hoped for an end to the religious persecution they’d suffered so badly during Elizabeth I’s reign. Sadly, they hoped in vain.
The Gunpowder Plot was a conspiracy by the English Roman Catholics to blow up King James 1, his queen and eldest son at the Opening of Parliament on 5 November 1605. Their aim? To replace a protestant James 1 with his daughter Elizabeth, and make her a Catholic Head of State.
The conspirators led by the ardent Catholic, Robert Catesby, rented a ground floor cellar beneath the House of Lords and filled it with 36 barrels of gunpowder. So who was Guy Fawkes? Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators, and the one chosen to light the fuse, as he had years of experience in munitions. As the one tasked with doing the deed, it’s not surprising Guy Fawkes became the iconic figure of the Gunpowder Plot.
The plot very nearly succeeded. However, the authorities were alerted to the plot by an anonymous letter. So, in the early hours on 5 November Fawkes was caught red-handed by the Royal Guards.
He and some of the other conspirators were arrested, tortured and finally hung, drawn and quartered for high treason. One could say that they were some of the earliest terrorists.
Celebrating the fact that the king survived, people all around London lit fires. And months later, the Observance of 5th November Act mandated an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure. It’s a tradition that has carried on to this day.
How is Bonfire Night celebrated today?
Bonfire Night is a big celebration all over Britain. Communities come together at public gatherings to watch firework displays and set a huge bonfire alight. Also, models of Guy Fawkes are made of old clothes and stuffed full of newspaper - then the Guy is thrown on the bonfire. Sometimes family and friends come together for smaller bonfire celebrations in their own gardens - careful to handle the fireworks safely.
The biggest public firework display is the Edenbridge Display in Kent. Edenbridge also has the biggest Guy: a nine-metre ‘celebrity’ model is burned there every year. Last year the celebrity Guy was the footballer - Wayne Rooney.
In the past - in the run up to Bonfire Night - children used to take their home-made Guys onto the streets and ask for ‘a penny for the Guy’. That way they could collect money to buy fireworks. However, now you have to be over 18 to buy fireworks - as safety on Bonfire Night is an important issue. So that’s a tradition that has died out.
Food is usually served at these celebrations to warm people up on a cold November night. Traditional food includes hot baked potatoes, cooked on the bonfire and filled with butter and cheese. Toffee apples are also served - apples on a stick, covered in sweet toffee. In the north, a special type of cake called Parkin is served. And let’s not forfeit the toasted marshmallows!
Send money abroad from the UK with WorldRemit
We hope you found this explosive article of interest. The great news is that we have many more articles on community festivities and customs from around the world for you to read. Plus, if you’re planning on moving to the UK anytime soon, a
nd experiencing a Guy Fawkes night for yourself, we have a really useful read on everything you need to know about moving to the UK.
Then, If you need to send money from the UK to family and friends back home, you can enjoy a fast, low cost and secure money transfer service with WorldRemit.
Sign up to send today
The contents of this blog post do not constitute legal or financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal and / or financial advice, you should contact a specialist lawyer or financial advisor. Information true at time of publishing.
WorldRemit allows customers to stay connected and support their loved ones. Our Content Team plays an integral part in that. We celebrate the global community and help you to achieve your ambitions.
