245 - Guy Fawkes Night is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November in Great Britain. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords.
Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
Guy Fawkes was born in York in April 1570. His education was at St Peter's School, which is why pupils today are not allowed to burn an effigy of Guy, since "We don't burn effigies of old boys"!
Thank you Louise. Apparently the St Peters school not burning effigies only started around world war 2 - before then the school used to provide a bonfire for the locals on Clifton Green, complete with a guy to be burnt!
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments. Good of you to take the time to comment on this when there were so many other great fireworks shots posted on this site!
Thank you Bill. I think it's rather sad that traditional celebrations are being watered down and marketing opportunities like Halloween and Trick or Treat are growing in popularity.
Thank you Louise. Apparently the St Peters school not burning effigies only started around world war 2 - before then the school used to provide a bonfire for the locals on Clifton Green, complete with a guy to be burnt!
Thank you Janet - apparently the act was in force for around 250 years, and was only repealed in 1859.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments. Good of you to take the time to comment on this when there were so many other great fireworks shots posted on this site!
Thank you Kd - it was a great display, and apart from getting rather cold I enjoyed the photo opportunity!
Thank you Bill. I think it's rather sad that traditional celebrations are being watered down and marketing opportunities like Halloween and Trick or Treat are growing in popularity.
Thank you Kristin - it was a pretty good display!