Celebrated Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes Night commemorates the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
The eponymous Guy Fawkes was one member of a group of plotters who attempted to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords. To celebrate the fact the King survived the plot, Londoners made bonfires around the British capital.
To this day, the tradition continues with bonfires and firework displays around the British Isles. Straw effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned, as are dummies of modern political figures.
These dummies are often carried through the streets in the days prior to Nov. 5, and children ask people for “a penny for the guy.” As the effigies burn, fireworks explode overhead to remember the explosives discovered before they could kill the King.
While fireworks and bonfires can be seen all over Britain, some towns and villages have specific celebrations of their own. In Lewes, East Sussex, bonfire night celebrations are coordinated by six societies with a long history and the town draws visitors from around the country.
In Otterly St Mary, Devon, residents carry flaming barrels soaked in tar around the town. It certainly makes for an arresting sight.
Wherever you are in Britain on Nov. 5, you will likely see fireworks bursting in the night sky. Get outside and enjoy the crisp November evening on Guy Fawkes Night.
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