One important date in the British calendar is 5th November: Guy Fawkes Day.The festival is a celebration marking the foiled gun powder plot that was created in order to overthrow power in the British Empire.The gun powder plot as it is known today was a plan hatched by a large group of Catholic conspirators lead by Guy Fawkes. The plot was to kill James I - then King of England - and blow up the houses of parliament. However, the group was discovered before the plot could be executed. Britons therefore celebrate the plot failing and the houses of parliament remaining intact!

The history behind Guy Fawkes Day

The plot of this foiled gun powder incident can be in detail seen in the movie V for Vendetta that actually made the premise of the entire plot more interesting and brought to focus the entire nature of such an act.The act was viewed as treason and the men were punished by death.Guy Fawkes, the man behind this event however was hailed by his supporters as a man with a vision and how his idea of defeating the government never died although the man himself passed away.The plot itself is remembered by its day, the 5th of November, the starting lines of the “Remember, Remember the 5th of November…” poem.

The Custom of Guy Fawkes Day

The main event during Guy Fawkes Day is that of fireworks display.There are huge bonfires that take pride of place in the activities on this particular day. The festival is not only celebrated in Britain, but also sometimes in other commonwealth countries such as Australia, South Africa and Canada.

Owing to a fireworks ban, some other territories no longer celebrate the day - including Barbuda and Antigua.In Canada, the festival has a lot of following especially in the British occupied areas of Newfoundland and Labrador. The night is often abuzz with the smell of fire and smoke at night.It is in England however that the festivities are at the grandest.People come out on to the streets and celebrate the victory of the Government.The festival which is Over 400 years still seems to have its followers all over the world. With an idea that could last forever, Guy Fawkes Day continues to be celebrated on the 5th of November annually.

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