Friday 5 November 2010

Bonfire night

For 400 years bonfires have been lit around England on 5th November. We call it Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night and children often make an effigy of Guy Fawkes to sit on their bonfire. Fireworks are lit and a jolly good time is had by all.

If you don't live in Britain you might wonder what it is all in aid of so I'll try to explain.


In 1605 a man named Guy Fawkes designed a plot to blow up King James I and the English Parliament. Mr Fawkes and some friends (see below) loaded barrels of gunpowder into the cellar below the king's meeting room, but they were discovered just in time and their attempt to kill the king failed. People around the country lit bonfires to celebrate their king's survival and they've been celebrating on 5th November ever since (it makes the perfect excuse for a bit of a party on a dull November evening!).



Wishing everyone in Britain a happy Bonfire Night and a good weekend to you all.