| In 1605, a traitor named Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the British Parliament with gunpowder. He, and his band of fellow conspirators, were
caught after one of the group sent a letter to King James of England warning him to stay away from Parliament. Guy Fawkes was imprisoned and eventually
put to death for his trouble.
Nowadays, the British mark Guy Fawkes' Day (or Bonfire Night) by building bonfires and letting off fireworks. Traditionally, children made effigies
of Fawkes from old clothes stuffed with newspaper, and display their "Guy" in the streets. Guys were then thrown on the bonfire at the height of
the celebrations. |
