Who is Guy Fawkes?
Theydecided to put barrels of gunpowder in the cellarsof the Houses of Parliament and blow them upwhen the King was visiting for the openingceremony of Parliament on 5th November. Themost famous of the conspirators was Guy or‘Guido’ Fawkes, a soldier and expert in explosives.
On the eve of 4th November he went to the cellarsto check the gunpowder and it was here that hewas caught and arrested. The King had discoveredthe plan by an anonymous letter sent toParliament.
What happened to Guy Fawkes and the other plotters?
Guy Fawkes was the expert and was found in charge of thegunpowder. He was questioned and tortured, then confessed.All the men involved were imprisoned and weregoing to be killed for treason - plotting to killthe king.Before Guy Fawkes could be hanged, he brokehis neck and died in 1606.
Bonfire Night today
The celebrations have remained mostly the same for hundreds of years, although peoplenowadays don’t go to church as part of the day. Most towns and villages organise publicdisplays where you can stand by huge bonfires and watch the fireworks as you eat a toffeeapple or a hot snack. Many children learn this poem about Bonfire Night at school, and theylook forward to a special evening out
