Tomorrow, 5th of November is a very important festivity in England and other English speaking countries.
November 5th is Bonfire Night in the UK. Bonfire Night is also known as Guy Fawkes Night.
Four hundred years ago, in 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes and a group of plotters attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London with barrels of gunpowder placed in the basement. They wanted to kill King James and the king’s leaders.
When QUEEN ELIZABETH I took the throne of England she made some laws against the Roman Catholics. Guy Fawkes was one of a small group of Catholics who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly. They hoped that king James I would change the laws, but he didn't.
Catholics had to practise their religion in secret. There were even fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James lst passed more laws against the Catholics when he became king.
A group of men led by Robert Catesby, plotted to kill King James and blow up the Houses of Parliament, the place where the laws that governed England were made.
The plot was simple - the next time Parliament was opened by King James I, they would blow up everyone there with gunpowder. The men bought a house next door to the parliament building. The house had a cellar which went under the parliament building. They planned to put gunpowder under the house and blow up parliament and the king.
Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London.
He was tortured and questioned about the other plotters. To start with he didn't tell the soldiers anything about the plot. But, eventually he started to tell the truth.
In celebration of his survival, King James ordered that the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night on 5th November
source:woodlands-junior
Did you know the story?Have you ever heard about this british celebration?
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