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Posted on Nov 4, 2013

What Does Guy Fawkes Say?

The secret of Guy Fawkes? Ancient history. Somewhere deep in a book...

by UKinUSA

Community Brand Publisher

The 5th of November Bonfire Night is a wonderful holiday in the UK but what's it about? It's all in the famous rhyme:

Remember remember, the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
We know no reason why Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot

Still not clear? Let's enlist another famous rhyme to help out!

Via youtube.com

In 1605, a group of thirteen conspirators, including a Yorkshireman named Guy Fawkes, planned to blow up Parliament during the State Opening and kill the entire legislature along with King James I. In a cellar under the House of Lords chamber, they placed 36 barrels filled with 2.5 metric tons of gunpowder. (That's a lot of gunpowder, folks.)

In the early hours of November 5th, the morning of the State Opening, Fawkes was in the cellar guarding the barrels when the authorities arrived. He was captured and later executed. Upon hearing the news that King James was safe, people took to the streets and began celebrating. This tradition continues to this day during Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night.