Guy Fawkes Night

Every year, on the 5th of November, the British celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, a remembrance to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.  All over London bonfires and fireworks displays are lit. This event is attended and celebrated by thousands and thousands of Londoners, as a matter of fact I think the whole city went bananas. :+)

You might wonder what this guy Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot is all about. In 1605 there was a conspiracy in which several Roman-Catholics planned to blow up King James I, the Queen and Parliament. They were hoping to take over the country and have their religion tolerated.

The conspirators rented a cellar under the Palace of Westminster. Guy Fawkes had hidden several barrels of (this is where the name of the plot comes into the picture) gunpowder there, with the intention to blow up the Palace on the 5th of November.

However, one of his colleague conspirators, Francis Tresham, warned his brother-in-law, Lord Monteagle. He told him not to attend the house on the 5th of November. Of course, what else could you expect, Lord Monteagle informed the Government of this plot and Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars. He was taken to the Tower of London and under torture he gave the names of the other conspirators.

We went to Alexandra Palace to see the fireworks display there. Not only did they have the most wonderful fireworks, there also was a small fun fair, which attracted lots of visitors.

If you happen to be in London on the 5th of November, I can recommend you to go to one of the bonfires and fireworks displays. What I have seen of it they are (with one word) wonderful.