Remember, remember
The fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
For the muggleborns amongst us, and maybe a few half bloods, Bonfire Night and the tale of Guy Fawkes is almost a rite of passage during primary school, but apparently not everyone knows why we celebrate it by a huge bonfire and lots of fireworks, toffee apples, and sparklers!
And the best bit?
IT’S TOTALLY THE OG CONSPIRACY
In the 1600s James the First of England and Sixth of Scotland was on the throne.
The worst part for people? He didn’t like Catholics (it’s a branch of the religion Christianity).
Robert Catesby (a catholic) was the brains of it all and used got together a band of twelve (catholic) blokes and plotted to blow up the Muggle Parliament when they opened on November 5th and installed King James’ daughter as Head of the Catholic State.
Then they decided they needed one more person.
Francis Tresham; The Idiot.
And so, there were thirteen….
They planned to roll 36 barrels of gunpowder down the River Thames and leave them under Parliament with Guy Fawkes to light the fuse.
Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Stupidly, however, Francis Tresham’s brother-in-law was due in Parliament on November 5th and quickly sent him a letter to warn him it would probably be best not to go in that day.
Take a rest day.
Pull a sickie.
And so he told the authorities.
And the night before the plot Guy Fawkes was found guarding the gunpowder, the others were caught (or killed when pursued) and found guilty. They were tortured, hung, drawn, and quartered.
And because of this we celebrate the foiled plot by burning a Guy on our bonfire and light gunpowder that looks pretty when it explodes.
And that’s why we celebrate Bonfire Night.