Don't you Remember,
The Fifth of November,
'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day,
I let off my gun,
And made'em all run.
And Stole all their Bonfire away. (1742)

Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night is a commemoration of Guy (aka Guido) Fawkes and an event called the "Gunpowder Plot".  The event is one of three main events celebrated amongst the Scottish diaspora along with St. Andrews Day (30 November) and Burn's Night (25 January). It is also celebrated throughout the United Kingdom and is truly a British celebration. 

The Plot occurred in 1605 in London, England and was an attempted conspiracy to assassinate King James I (King James VI of Scotland - remember the two crowns were united by marriage and this is the start of the Stuart Dynasty, replacing the Tudors) by a group of English Catholics who wanted to restore the Catholic monarchy - and with it make the King rule by absolutism (or by divine right). 

The House of Lords was to be blown up during the state opening of Parliament on 5 November 1605.  An anonymous informant revealed the plot and the House of Lords was searched the night before the opening.  Some 36 barrels of gunpowder (more than enough to kill everyone in attendance and demolish the House of Lords) were discovered and the conspirators fled.  Fawkes was arrested and his co-conspirators either shot or hanged, drawn and quartered like Fawkes.  

In 1606 James I passed a law making the 5th of November an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.  The holiday carried strong Protestant connotations and was the focus for a strong anti-Catholic sentiment.  Often effigies of the Pope were burned.  Much of that was toned down in the 1850s with the influx of Irish immigrants to the growing industrial centres and also a growing sense of tolerance.  Bonfire Night became what it is today - a large organized event in the UK centred on a bonfire and fireworks.  It was exported to the 13 Colonies but it died out with the War of the American Rebellion.  Generally in North America Bonfire Night has become forgotten.  In the UK it is a time mainly for families and children to celebrate with a bonfire and fireworks.  For many it is a chance to show contempt and ridicule for Parliament and politicians.  There remain vestiges of Bonfire Night in parts of New England and in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Halloween has largely replaced Bonfire Night in North America - especially in the west where fireworks are part of Halloween.

The concept of Bonfire Night, as it is today, was reflected in the film V for Vendetta. This film resurrected the Guy Fawkes mask as a placard against tyranny.  It is used by the pseudo-anarchist/hacker group known as Anonymous. Apparently that group inspired the production of TV series called Mr. Robot.  

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