The Origins of Bonfire Night

The Origins of Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night is a night where groups get together light a fire and celebrate with fireworks or sparklers. This night was actually first celebrated in 1605 when Guy Fawkes was put to death, for his involvement in the attempted assassination of parliament.

The origin starts in 1603 when Protestant James I took the throne. The last monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, repressed Catholicism in England. Many of the Catholics had hoped James would be more sympathetic to Catholicism as his mother, Mary Queen of Scots was Catholic. However, he wasn't and continued to suppress the people of their religious views. 

*Cool Fact* Guido had adopted the Catholic Spanish version of his name to show people his serious faith in Catholicism. 

An explosives expert, Guido Fawkes, was enlisted to help the Catholic's plot to dispose of the king. After fighting on the side of Catholic Spain against Protestant Dutch reformers, he returned to England and married.

The group leased a vault underneath the House of Lords and in the dead of night brought in 36 barrels of Gunpowder. On the 4th November Guido, aka Guy Fawkes as we know him, was in charge of protecting the vault. 

A letter reached Lord Monteagle, a Catholic loyal to the crown. It is unknown who sent the letter, but many believed Francis Tresham was the conspirator.

Fawkes was caught with the Gunpowder in the leased room. The king ordered Fawkes to be tortured in the Tower of London, to reveal his co-conspirators. A confession was eventually extracted from him but by this time the other conspirators had been arrested, with the exception of four.

After his trial in January 1606, all captured were found guilty and were sentenced to death. In 1606 November 4th + 5th, in remembrance of the kings survival, Londoners started lighting bonfires. Later years effigies of the Pope were burnt on the 5th November to symbolise the anti-Catholic sentiment of the time.  

In the 18th Century, children began walking streets with Guy Fawkes masks. Also, the Pope was replaced with Guy Fawkes on the bonfire. The holiday went from being known as "Gunpowder Treason Day" to "Guy Fawkes Day" as we know it. 

Bonfire day in modern times has become less and less popular, in recent years with Covid the tradition along with Halloween are celebrated less so, however Halloween still remains extremely popular and less in threat of being forgotten. 

We wish everyone a safe and fun Bonfire day!

-ASASonline Team