Guy Fawkes Night firework celebration
(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)It’s that time of the year where British people gather in crowds to light up the sky with hundreds of fireworks and cheerfully burn effigies of a single man all night long.
And if you don’t know what we’re talking about, you must not be British.
Allow us to explain: November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night). The UK Holiday dates back to 1605 when a group of Roman Catholic activists arranged "the Gunpowder Plot", an attempt to assassinate the Protestant King James I.
Guy Fawkes plotted to assassinate the king and blow up the Palace of Westminster by smuggling 36 barrels under the House of Lords into a cellar. However, he was caught thanks to an anonymous letter and sent to the Tower of London where he was tortured and subsequently executed in January 1606 for high treason.
In short: Guy Fawkes’ failure to blow up Parliament is celebrated every year by the Brits and has become a national holiday. It’s a holiday that’s uniquely celebrated by the Brits and the Brits alone, which makes explaining the night’s event to people around the world quite difficult.
In honor of the upcoming holiday, we gathered 10 of our favorite posts about Guy Fawkes night that proves just how confusing the date is to the rest of the world.
On how it compares to other countries’ important events
Americans: the fourth of July when we declared independence from Great Britain
— Nilesh (@nilesh12412) July 14, 2021
the French: bastille day when common people stormed the prison representing our fight to end tyranny
British: some catholic tried to blow up parliament, lets do fireworks
On V for Vendetta’s impact
not americans thinking nov 5 is for v for vendetta and not that it’s an actual thing......
— scott ⧗ (@spiderhailee) November 5, 2020
Two days until Americans Think It’s A V For Vendetta Reference Day
— Pale Rider (@FierceGlomps) November 3, 2018
On wearing Guy Fawkes masks
Do Americans think Brits stand in their thousands on the streets of Westminster in Guy Fawkes masks tonight? I'm in bed. Sorry to disappoint
— PogoTJ on Splatoon 2 🦑 (@JoshClarkeDraws) November 5, 2012
Americans think we wear a Guy Fawkes mask on Bonfire Night. Do we? I thought we just burned the lad and threw rockets at each other in Heaton Park pic.twitter.com/BPykHKMLoA
— Emily Baker (@emilyrbakes) July 14, 2020
Americans thinking the fireworks were in honor of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win
Americans: How nice of the British to set off fireworks to celebrate Joe Biden's victory.
— Patrick Christie (@pd_christie) November 8, 2020
British: Erm yeah, of course. We're obviously not celebrating the failed assassination attempt of King James I in 1605 and burning effigies of treasonous Catholics... that would be crazy
American news outlets claiming British Guy Fawkes Night firework displays as a celebration for Biden is so embarrassing.
— Bonfire Hortator 💥🇬🇧 (@D0vahk11n2) November 8, 2020
Being viewed as the British version of Thanksgiving
Today I found out that my lovely American colleagues thought the British version of Thanksgiving was Guy Fawkes / Bonfire Night
— Charis Reid (@charisreid_) November 30, 2020
Explained that we do not get a special meal or turkey... but now I’m thinking we Brits have been scammed somehow. 🤔
On celebrating failure
For my non-UK friends who are wondering what the fuck I'm on about, November 5th is "Guy Fawkes Night" or "Bonfire Night" where we 'celebrate' the failed gun powder plot to blow up Parliament. Yes, every year we celebrate FAILURE. Because we're British.
— Steven Caulfield (@SteveJones313) November 1, 2021
On kids burning a dummy
the whole idea of guy fawkes night is really funny to me why do we throw a party for the dude who tried to blow up parliament why do we get kids to make little voodoo dolls of him to put on the bonfire what the fuck
— FREY 🅴 (@agext_kiwi) January 15, 2021
I just remembered how ruthless the British are when it comes to Guy Fawkes. They don’t even call it that, it’s bonfire night. Ur local primary school sets a massive bonfire and they throw on a dummy to symbolize guy fawkes and everyone cheers and watches it burn
— katherine diamond: exhausted elder millenial (@unseen_carousel) October 15, 2021
On holding grudges
I’m sure the UK will forgive the Brexiters for how they’ve fucked the country. Anyway, I’m off to burn the effigy of a man who’s been dead for 412 years.
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) November 2, 2018
In comparison to July 4th in America
Americans celebrate beating the British with fireworks
— ZonksTheAlien👽🛸 (@ZonkstheAlien) July 5, 2020
The British celebrate trying to defeat the British with fireworks
The difference in how the U.S. Capitol Riots are viewed
British people today: isn’t it awful that those people stormed Capitol Hill? They must be punished!
— karen wilson (@_love_kari_) January 7, 2021
British people on Nov 5th: let’s set off fireworks to commemorate that Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament! Kids, get your coats on!#CapitolBuilding #CapitolHill
