Guy Fawkes Night Fireworks: Remember, Remember the 5th of November!
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder and treason
Should ever be forgot...
In England we don’t enjoy fireworks on balmy summer evenings. Oh no. Rather, we wait until it’s freezing outside, and then try cheer ourselves up with them! Guy Fawkes Night is rapidly approaching - offering many chances to watch fireworks around London, beginning as early as Hallowe’en Night.
Also known as Bonfire Night, fifth of November is the anniversary of the Gunpower Plot of 1605 when a group of English Roman Catholic revolutionaries planned to blow up the House of Lords. This would have killed King James and most of the aristocracy, but Fawkes was caught trying to ignite the gunpowder. He was tortured and then executed.
Traditionally, on Guy Fawkes Night children stuffed an effigy called a ‘guy’ and asked for a donation saying “Penny for the guy”. The children bought fireworks with the proceeds and the guy was later thrown on a bonfire.
To find fireworks in your area, have a look at the handy Firework Finder website. Or, View London has displays listed by date.
gunpowder - 火薬
treason - 反逆
plot - プロット
balmy - 暖かい
bonfire - 篝火
Roman Catholic - ローマカトリック教
revolutionaries - 革命家
aristocracy - 貴族政治
tortured - 苦しめられる
executed - 死刑
effigy - 彫像