It's 2021, and tonight, the whole of the U.K. celebrate an event that took place 416 years ago, in 1605...the Gunpowder Treason Plot.
So why do we celebrate with fireworks?
Well, on the 5th of November 1605, a group tried to kill King James I, and the members of Parliament, by blowing up the Houses of Parliament, in an extreme act of protest. Their aim? To kill the King, and replace him with his daughter, and replace the Protestant Government with a Catholic one.
Around midnight, Guy Fawkes was found in the cellars - a search got underway, and 36 barrels of gunpowder were found. Some bloody torture later, and the whole plot was laid bare...
This group of 8 fanatics were dedicated to replacing the existing governing body with one that shared their religious beliefs - and by any means necessary. If successful, the blast would have gone so far as to have also destroyed Westminster Abbey, and it would have left a crater in the centre of London.
Even though the leader was Robert Catesby, the man most of us remember is Guy Fawkes. He was the one found that night in the Houses of Parliament, and it is effigies of him that get burnt on Bonfire Night...so how was he found?
An anonymous letter was sent to Lord Monteagle (he was the brother-in-law of one of the conspirators) shortly before, warning him to stay away from the Opening of Parliament. He raised the alert, and a search was undertaken, and the rest is, well, history...
In 1606, this night was declared as a day and night of thanksgiving for the narrowly averted disaster that was mere moments away from happening.
So if you have set off fireworks tonight, or built a bonfire, or even burnt a Guy, now you know why!
Remember, remember,
the Fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
If you want to see a modern version of this, watch V for Vendetta.
Thank you all, and enjoy!
Annabelle 馃槉
