Yesterday evening was quite cold, so I decided against trying to take photos at our local fireworks display to mark Guy Fawkes Night (otherwise known as Bonfire Night) - at least until I heard the fireworks start, when I ended up leaning out of our bedroom window using the power of my zoom lens to get closer to the action!
Guy Fawkes Night is an annual commemoration traditionally observed on 5 November (but increasingly at the weekend nearest to November 5th), primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605AD, when Guy Fawkes, a member of a group planning to blow up the Protestant King James I and his parliament, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating that the king had survived, people lit bonfires around London; and months later, the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was known, became the predominant English state commemoration. As it carried strong Protestant religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-Catholic sentiment. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures, such as the Pope. Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes and 5 November gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day.
In the 1850s changing attitudes resulted in the toning down of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric and violence, and the Observance of 5th November Act was repealed in 1859. Eventually the violence was dealt with, and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable social commemoration, although lacking much of its original focus. The present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised events.
Guy Fawkes has a strong York connection. He was born in 1570 in Stonegate, the second of four children born to Edward Fawkes and his wife, Edith. Guy's parents were regular communicants of the Church of England, as were his paternal grandparents. In 1579, when Guy was eight years old, his father died. His mother remarried several years later, to the Catholic Dionis Baynbrigge (or Denis Bainbridge) of Scotton, Harrogate. In due course, Guy Fawkes became a Catholic. After a rather adventurous life, he was drawn into the Gunpowder Plot, and it's failure led to his torture and death.
that's a bit of a different view point. How could you resist! When I was a kid we celebrated Guy Fawkes night, but no one has heard of it more recently.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and fav, they are very much appreciated.
I know many people have pets which are disturbed or frightened by fireworks, so I was interested to read that in Port Erin, on the Isle of Man, there was a low noise firework display this year, with the noise level being about half that of normal fireworks.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and fav, they are very much appreciated.
I know many people have pets which are disturbed or frightened by fireworks, so I was interested to read that in Port Erin, on the Isle of Man, there was a low noise firework display this year, with the noise level being about half that of normal fireworks.
Ian
Thank you Vesna. Fireworks can make a very attractive display.
Ian