What is the significance of November the 5th in England?

Question

"I know of no reason the gunopowder treason should ever be forgot"

Answer 1

On 5th November 1605 a group of catholic conspiritors, Robert Catesby, Thomas and Robert Winter,Thomas Percy,John Wright, Robert Keyes and Guy (or Guido) Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament during the state opening when the King, James I, would be in attendance. This act of terrorism on a grand scale was to try and re-establish the catholic religion in England.

A vast number of gunpowder barrels were placed in an abandoned cellar under parliament, and the night before Guy Fawkes hid amongst them with fuses and a tinderbox. Fawkes, to modern eyes appears the principal conspiritor, but really he was a minor participant - the leader of the group being Catesby.

Their big mistake was sending an anonymous letter to Lord Monteagle, a catholic, warning him not to attend the state opening. Monteagle passed this onto the authorities who ordered a search of parliament and promptly discovered Fawkes.

Guy Fawkes revealed the names of the rest of the group after being severely tortured in the Tower. They were chased on horseback across the English countryside before holing up at Holbeche House, Staffordshire, where a gunfight commenced with government troops. All bar Robert Winter were killed.

There were 8 other men, including Fawkes, connected to the plot and they were charged with treason which meant they were executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

So, every 5th November, Britain celebrates the failure of the plot with fireworks and bonfires, upon which there is usually the burning of a "Guy". In some parts of the southwest an effigy of the Pope is burnt.

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I know of no reason,

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot"

There is another lesser remembered reason. That the protestant William of Orange (later William III) landed at Torbay on the 5th November 1688 on the south coast at the invitation of the English government to overthrow the newly converted catholic James II and begin the Glorious Revolution.

A bit long-winded but I hope that helps.

Answer 2

That's when this fellow named Guy  Hawks tried to blow up Parliament.

Answer 3

it's my birthday, in any country!

Answer 4

It is when religious fanatics tried to blow up parliament and the King in order to make Britain Catholic again.

The perpetrators were all caught and executed.

See:

http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gun...

Bizarrely the word 'guy' meaning fellow, person, man etc comes from Guy Fawkes.

See:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?sear...

Edit - Louise C- Lewes is a fantastic spectacle, I was there a few years back, brilliant fun (and I was with an all Catholic party - none of whom were offended, even by the Pope burning) - you should go

Answer 5

Guy Fawke's plan to adjourn parliament.

Answer 6

It was the day in 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his fellow Catholic consiprators attempted to blow up parliament while the king was there.  Their plan was apparently to install the King's son Henry as a sort of puppet monarch.  They stored barrels of gunpowder under the houses of parliament, but they were discovered before the gunpowder could be exploded.

it became customary to celebrate the occasion with a bonfire on which an image of the Pope would be burned.  Later the Pope was replaced with the less controversial figure of Guy Fawkes himself. They also let off fireworks.  In some towns there are still some quite spectacular celebrations.  In Lewes in Sussex for instance they roll flaming barrels through the streets, which must be an amazing sight.