Guy Fawkes Day

Today is Guy Fawkes Day! Guy Fawkes Day is an annual celebration commemorating the foil of the Gunpowder Plot in England on November 5, 1605. This plot was a conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London and to kill King James I. Fawkes became involved in the small group of rebels and was valued for his experience in the military and his knowledge about explosives. After the plot was discovered, the conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, were tortured, hanged, and drawn and quartered.

Guy Fawkes Day celebrates the king's escape from assassination. Today, it is still a popular holiday in the United Kingdom, as well as other current and former British territories including New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Newfoundland, Australia, Bermuda, and other Caribbean islands.

People celebrate Guy Fawkes Day by lighting fireworks and bonfires. Several traditional rhymes such as the “bonfire cry” often accompany the fanfare. Take part in the festivities today and celebrate Guy Fawkes Day!