What happened?
In 1605, a group of plotters planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London and kill King James I. This became known as the Gunpowder Plot.
On the night of 4–5 November, Guy Fawkes was caught in a cellar under Parliament, guarding barrels of gunpowder. The plot failed, and people lit bonfires to celebrate the King’s survival. More than 400 years later, the tradition is still going strong.
How do people celebrate today?
Most towns hold a big fireworks display, usually on the weekend closest to 5 November. Many have a huge bonfire, sometimes with a guy on top: a figure made of old clothes stuffed with newspaper. People wrap up warm, eat hot food and watch the show.
Useful vocabulary
- bonfire – a large outdoor fire
- fireworks display – an organised show of fireworks
- sparkler – a small handheld firework that fizzes and sparkles
- the guy – the figure burned on the bonfire
- toffee apple – an apple covered in hard, sweet toffee
- parkin – a sticky ginger cake, popular in the north of England
Phrases you might hear
“Are you going to the fireworks on Saturday?”
“Wrap up warm, it’s freezing out there!”
“Remember, remember the fifth of November” – the first line of a traditional rhyme about the plot.
Your turn
Have a go, then tap to check your answer.
What is another name for Guy Fawkes Night?
Bonfire Night
What was the name of the plan to blow up Parliament in 1605?
The Gunpowder Plot
What’s the small firework you can hold in your hand?
A sparkler
