Guy Fawkes Night/ Bonfire Night/ Whatever else it's called

[Courk]

From what I understand, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament, yet there's a night to celebrate this? I don't understand, and I've been trying to make sense of it, but most of the things I've found don't mention why he's celebrated for his plot.

Edit: And a Merry Guy Fawkes Night!

[mith]

I *think* it's more to celebrate that he failed.

I'd read about it, but I can't think for all the bloody fireworks going off outside my window.

[Courk]

That kind of makes sense, but it almost seems like us calling July 4 "King George III Day."

[Mackay]

Well, in Aussieland it was always called "Empire Night", though we don't celebrate it anymore, it was more of a colonial hangover.

[Mackay]

*afterthough, probably inaccurate* Could it be possible it's only called Guy Fawkes night in America?

[Courk]

Umm... we don't celebrate it. My calendar says "Bonfire Night, U.K." Beyond that, I would have had no idea that there was even a holiday on the other side of the Atlantic.

[Mackay]

Really? I guess it's just a Limey thing then. *crosses Guy Fawkes day off List Of American Stuff To Remember*

[Talitha]

We celebrate it here too, and it's called Guy Fawkes. Much bigger deal here than Halloween. Cos yeah, we're still British spawn and haven't sold our soul to America yet

[Mr Stoofer]

This is an English perspective.

November 5th is more commonly referred to as "Bonfire Night" than Guy Fawkes Night. But both names are used. It celebrates the failure of the "Gunpowder Plot" in which Fawkes and co attempted to blow up Parliament. Fireworks are set off and effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned on large bonfires.

It is more religious in origin than many people seem to realise. The Gunpowder Plot was a plan by Catholics to kill the Protestant King and replace him with a Catholic King. it was an attempt to undo the English Reformation and return the country to Catholicism. Bonfire Night is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny that the British people associated with Papal (ie Catholic) rule.

This is not something that many people think or even know about. But the anti-Catholic nature of Bonfire Night can be sen here and there. In Lewes (a small town on the South Coast of England), Bonfire Night is a huge deal; there is a big parade; there are Societies devoted entirely to preparing for each year's parade; and instead of burning Guy Fawkes, they burn effigies of the Pope!

But generally there are no religious overtones to the celebration. It is just an excuse to watch fireworks, and everyone of all religions and none get equally involved, oblivious of the history of the event.

[Kd]

What he said. Also, fireworks can't legally be sold all year round here (last time I checked, anyway) so that's why there's such a huge amount of them going off in a short space of time, and why sometimes you see a random one go off in February, or something.
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[mith]

[Agamemnon]

[Agamemnon]

http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/gun-plot.htm

[Mr. Stoofer]

[Jack_Ian]

[Ctorj]

[Jack_Ian]

[Ctorj]

One could argue that Samhain, however, and Halloween are not the same. Bonfires are not associated with Halloween in America. Trick or treating and pumpkins are, but not bonfires.