On November 5th, people remember the gunpowder plot, a secret plan to overthrow the King of England in 1606.
Remember, remember
the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason,
and plot. I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot...
This is a poem that all British children learn for Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes' Night.
Children use old clothes to make a Guy and people give them money to buy firecrackers (A penny for the guy!). In the evening, there is a bonfire to burn the Guy.
Guy Fawkes
In 1605, Guy Fawkes who was a Catholic, tried to explode 36 barrels of gunpowder in the English Parliament in London. He wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the King.
The police stopped him and arrested him. People in London celebrated with bonfires.
Guy Fawkes was executed for treason.
400 years later, the British continue to have bonfires to "celebrate their most famous traitor."
Matt 11/02/2009 16:40
Sam 11/02/2009 16:35