Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated every November 5, it commemorates the failure of the British conspirator. He was born in 1570 and was involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The scheme’s objective was to blow up Westminster during the opening of Parliament, with King James I and VI, and his chief ministers inside, for the revenge of the treatment and misery of Roman Catholics in England. Catholicism became extremely repressed after Queen Elizabeth I was excommunicated, in 1570, by the Pope. During her reign as monarch, numerous priests were put to death and it was not legal for Catholics to attend Mass or participate in the holy sacrament of marriage as a rite.

There were high hopes among the Catholic community when King James took to the throne as it was believed that his wife Anne who had converted to Catholicism earlier and his mother, Mary Queen of Scots was Elizabeth’s Catholic archrival. There were also rumours that James would become Catholic. However, James did not support religious strength for Catholics. He condemned Catholicism as a superstition in 1604, as well as ordering all Catholic priests to leave the country concerned with increase in the rise of Catholicism. There had been several failed plot attempts against both James and his predecessor prior to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Guy Fawkes’ father worked for the Church of England, after he passed his mother remarried. As a teenager he converted to Catholicism after being influenced by his stepfather’s Catholic practices, this was also the height of the Catholic Resistance in York. Fawkes left Protestant England and enlisted in the Catholic Spanish army in the Netherlands. He spent roughly 10 years fighting on the Spanish controlled Netherlands against Protestant Dutch rebels. He travelled to Spain in 1603 and called for King Philip III to declare war on England and its new Protestant monarch. His petition was declined. Other Gunpowder Plot members, Christopher Wright and Thomas Wintour had made an attempt to gain support from Philip III regarding a Catholic uprising.

A year later, Fawkes returned to England to join the plot, with fellow schoolmates from York, brothers John and Christopher Wright. He was recruited as Robert Catesby and his fellow group of Catholics realised that they needed the assistance of a soldier who would not be as identifiable as they were. Due to being in the military for over a decade, Fawkes had deep knowledge of gunpowder.

The plot took 18 months to plan, the group rented a cellar that continued under the Houses of Parliament. Guy positioned barrels of gunpowder there and concealed them with such things as coal. The plan entailed Fawkes lighting a fuse in the cellar under Parliament, this would result in the House of Lords and the House of Commons as well as King James I and his eldest son being blown up. Other members of the group would kidnap King James I’s daughter Elizabeth and then marry her off to a Catholic, which would produce a Catholic monarchy.

Authorities were alerted when an anonymous letter was sent to a Catholic sympathiser on October 26, it stated that they should avoid the State Opening of Parliament. It is unknown who wrote that letter, some believe it was falsified and that the conspiracy was already known to the authorities, letting it continue in order to allow for repression of the religion. Fawkes was arrested on November 5 and taken to the Tower of London, after being found in the cellar with 36 barrels of gunpowder and in possession of matches. The names of the other members of the plot were revealed after he was tortured on the rack. After being found guilty of treason and sentenced to death, he was sentenced to be executed but died as result of having a broken neck.

Even though Robert Catesby was the mastermind and there were at least 13 other conspirators, Guy Fawkes remains the most well-known and publicised. After the failed attempt new laws were introduced which banned Catholics from voting in elections, practicing law and serving in the military. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Catholics were fully liberated from these laws. Once the Gunpowder Plot came to light those in London lit bonfires to celebrate and then in January 1606, Parliament designated November 5 as a day of thanksgiving.

The celebration of Guy Fawkes Day includes the burning of miniatures of traitor, masked children scrounging for ‘a penny for the guy’ and of course the involvement of fireworks. The festivities spend to the American territories, where they were known as Pope Day. The occasion was once also celebrated by British subjects around the world. It has now become a day for family and friends to gather, to light fireworks and bonfires as well as attend parades.

Guy Fawkes no long symbolises a failure but a hero. This is consequence of the graphic novel and film ‘V for Vendetta’ which shows a character wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. These masks are now worn by those wishing to hide their identity whilst participating in different protest movements. It has become associated with anti-establishment and resistance.