Culture Lesson: Guy Fawkes Night

November 5th is a famous day in British history. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated on this day. Do you know who he was or why this day is celebrated? Let's find out about some British culture.

Guy Fawkes was a member of a group of British Roman Catholics who were involved in a plot to kill  King James I on November 5th, 1605. The group planned to use gunpowder to blow up the Houses of Parliament when the King was there. Guy Fawkes was caught guarding the barrels of gunpowder in a cellar below parliament. After he was caught, he was accused of treason, badly tortured and then killed.
Today this day is remembered by the lighting of  bonfires that have a doll of Guy Fawkes on them (the doll is called a ‘Guy’) and with fireworks displays. In school children learn this rhyme:

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason,
Should ever be forgot.

The words in bold are the key words you need to know about Guy Fawkes Night. Match the words to the correct meanings. Some other words are linked to the Cambridge Online Dictionary.

Please use these words:

plot - gunpowder - blow up - cellar - treason - tortured - bonfires - fireworks

Link: Politics Vocabulary

• To destroy something or kill someone with a bomb:
• A secret plan made by several people to do something that is not legal or harmful:
• A device consisting of a combination of explosives, set off to produce coloured lights, smoke, and noise for amusement. Usually seen in the night sky:
• An explosive mixture of substances in the form of a powder, used for making bombs, bullets and fireworks:
• The crime of trying to attack the king, queen or government of your own country:
• To have been caused great physical or mental pain by someone intentionally:
• A room under the ground floor of a building, usually used for storage:
• Large fires that are made outside to burn unwanted things, usually for fun.