Remember, Remember, The Fifth of
November
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
A night of fireworks, bonfires,
burning guys and burnt sausages. Guy Fawkes' Night is a quintessentially
English celebration which has spread to her colonies across the world.
On 5th November 1605, in
protest against England's persecution of the Catholic faith, thirteen men plotted
to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, hopefully killing the King - the
newly-crowned James I - and the members of parliament who opposed the open
practice of Catholicism.
The plot was foiled at the last
minute. One of the men, Guy Fawkes, caught in the cellars with several barrels
of gunpowder, was tortured and executed. The other conspirators were also
rounded up and killed.
That night, in celebration of the
King's deliverance, bonfires were lit across the country. The tradition has
held over the last 400 years, and still we light bonfires and burn an effigy of a man known as a 'guy.'
Although a relatively recent
festival, the reason for its continued popularity through the years is thought
to be linked to the festival of Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival held on 31st
October. This was a fire festival marking the coming of winter, when animals
were slaughtered and feasts held.
Around the time of James I, the
survivals of the old Pagan celebrations were being forcefully stamped out. It
was a very dangerous time to be accused of practising any religion other than
the denomination of Christianity favoured by the current monarch.
So Samhain, still stubbornly
celebrated by many country folk, simply moved forward a few days, under the
guise of enthusiastically and patriotically celebrating the long reign of the
king.
For more about Samhain, check out
this post:
http://light-onecandle.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/seven-days.html
