On the fifth of November a special event takes place in the UK: Guy Fawkes night. The history of Guy Fawkes night starts on the 5th of November 1605 when a catholic man named Guy Fawkes did something because he hated King James I, who was the ruler at that time.
James I was a protestant king and he was oppressing the catholics. Guy Fawkes did not like this and joined some other men in the “gunpowder plot”. Fawkes and his friends placed massive amounts of gunpowder under the House of Lords in London just in time for the opening of Parliament on the 5th of November. The plan was to blow up with the king and everyone important in the country. Fawkes was arrested when he was guarding the explosives in a little hole. The other members of the plot gang were either killed in battle with the king’s men, or they were executed later. Now we celebrate Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night) by making a fake Guy Fawkes “dolls” and burning them in a bonfire to show the safety of the king. And by arranging big fireworks all around town.
Since all of this happened long ago, many things are unclear and there are those historians who think that king James himself staged this plot to create a reason for oppressing the catholics afterwards.
By: Raphaël (supported by Cecilia in order to publish in time for the 5th)