Guy Fawkes Day: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:53, 7 November 2012

5 November. Day on which the Gunpowder Plot failed. Symbolic date that looms large in collective memory ("Remember, remember, the fifth of November") and is still celebrated with bonfires and fireworks.

In 1605, a group of English Catholics planned to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament, an occasion on which King James I would have been present. However, the plan was reported to the authorities, and Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, was arrested while he was guarding the explosives. The conspirators were charged with treason and sentenced to death by drawing and quartering. Very soon, 5 November turned into a symbolic victory of English Protestants over the Catholic 'Other'.

In the Restoration period, Guy Fawkes Day was often used for anti-Catholic demonstrations. People burned effigies of the Pope and conserved the memory that Catholics were evil terrorists. The ceremony became especially popular after the Great Fire of London and during the Exclusion Crisis.

It is probably no coincidence that William of Orange landed in England on 5 November 1688. Although he might be seen as a foreign invader who deposed the rightful King of England, James II, he stylised himself as a hero who had come to save England from the attacks by evil Catholics.

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-Remember, remember the Fifth of November.
+November. Day on which the [[Gunpowder Plot]] failed. Symbolic date that looms large in collective memory ("Remember, remember, the fifth of November") and is still celebrated with bonfires and fireworks.
-Why?
-Remember, remember the Fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot. I can think of no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot.
+In 1605, a group of English Catholics planned to blow up the House of Lords during the [[State Opening of Parliament]], an occasion on which King [[James I]] would have been present. However, the plan was reported to the authorities, and [[Guy Fawkes]], one of the conspirators, was arrested while he was guarding the explosives. The conspirators were charged with treason and sentenced to death by drawing and quartering. Very soon, 5 November turned into a symbolic victory of English Protestants over the Catholic 'Other'.
-Guy Fawkes and some other Catholics wanted to blow up the House of Parliament and King ''James I'' in 1605.
+In the [[Restoration]] period, Guy Fawkes Day was often used for anti-Catholic demonstrations. People burned effigies of the Pope and conserved the memory that Catholics were evil terrorists. The ceremony became especially popular after the [[Great Fire of London]] and during the [[Exclusion crisis|Exclusion Crisis]].
+It is probably no coincidence that [[William III|William of Orange]] [[Glorious Revolution|landed in England]] on 5 November 1688. Although he might be seen as a foreign invader who deposed the rightful King of England, [[James II]], he stylised himself as a hero who had come to save England from the attacks by evil Catholics.