Guy Fawkes day is a British ritual, celebrated on the 5th November, commemorating the failure of Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
The Gunpowder Plot conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, were zealous Roman Catholics enraged at King James I for refusing to grant greater religious tolerance to Catholics. They planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace) during the state opening of Parliament intending to kill the King and members of Parliament in order to clear the way to reestablish Catholic rule in England. The plan failed when the conspirators were betrayed. One of them, Guy Fawkes, was taken into custody the evening before the attack, in the cellar whee the explosives to be used were stored. The other conspirators were either killed, resisting capture or, like Fawkes, tried, convicted and executed.
In the aftermath, Parliament declared the 5th of November a national day of thanksgiving the first celebration of which took place in 1606.
Today, Guy Fawkes day is celebrated in the UK and in a number of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, with parades, fireworks, bonfires and food. Straw effigies of Fawkes are tossed on the bonfire, as are, in recent years, of unpopular political figures. Traditionally, children carry these effigies, called "Guys", through the streets in the days leading up to Guy Fawkes Day and ask for "a penny for a Guy", chanting songs associated with the occasion. One of the most popular is:
Remember, remember the 5th of November
We see no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Every year, guards perform an annual search of the Parliament buildings to check the potential arsonists, although os more ceremonial than serious.
London's burning, London's burning
Fetch the engines, fetch the engines
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
Pour on water. Pour on water.
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