Guy Fawkes: The Man with The Match

As most Brits know, Guy Fawkes was a bold Catholic conspirator. Alongside his equally ambitious crew, he cooked up a rather explosive plan: to blow up Parliament and take down King James I in the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

But what ever happened to that little-known Thanksgiving Act that Parliament passed as a national day of observance, following the foiled plot?

It’s time to dive into this forgotten piece of history. But first, lets recap some the details of the plotter’s demise …

Guy and his crew had their sights set on a golden prize – to end Protestant rule and swap it out for a Catholic monarchy.

Fawkes, the group’s designated ‘explosives expert’, was stationed in the cellars beneath the House of Lords. Match poised, ready to light the fuse. Though he didn’t mastermind the plot, his role was so memorable, his name is forever linked to this audacious, if not slightly misguided, scheme!

Catholics in the Crosshairs

Elizabeth I kept England firmly Protestant, carrying on her father Henry VIII’s break from Rome to establish the Church of England.

Under Elizabeth’s rule, Catholicism wasn’t just discouraged; it was downright dangerous. Catholics were often seen as shady characters with one eye on the Pope and the other on the English crown, making them prime suspects for treason.

Practicing their faith openly could mean hefty fines, prison time, or worse. Many Catholics had to worship in secret, risking serious punishment just to keep their faith alive.

Hopes Up, Hopes Dashed!

When James I took the throne, English Catholics hoped he might cut them some slack.

Early on, he showed hints of sympathy toward Catholicism, raising hopes that he’d ease up on those anti-Catholic laws.

But that optimism fizzled quickly – James stuck with the same policies, leaving Catholics still marginalised and frustrated.

Their deep-seated resentment toward Protestant rule and continued persecution drove some to desperate measures. The Gunpowder Plot was an explosive attempt to demand change.

5th November – Boom or Bust

The plotters believed that if they could just get a Catholic monarch on the throne, England would be a safe haven for their faith again. Their plan was to swap out King James I for someone a bit more Catholic-friendly. For example, his son, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. Ok, so he was only 11 at the time (and, ironically, passed away at 18 anyway), but potentially mouldable.

The plan was simple but dramatic:

Pack a cellar beneath the House of Lords with barrels of gunpowder.

Blow it up during the State Opening of Parliament, with the king and his top people in it.

Foiled by Francis

As fate would have it, the plot unraveled thanks to some well-placed suspicion and one anonymous tip-off. The big slip-up happened when Lord Monteagle, a Catholic nobleman, received a mysterious letter. The writer urged him to avoid the State Opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605.

Rumour has it that this ‘friendly warning’ came from Francis Tresham, himself a plotter, who couldn’t bear the thought of his family getting caught in the blast. Monteagle handed the letter over to the authorities and just like that, the whole conspiracy was on thin ice.

The Plot Thins – Guy’s Demise

On the night of November 4, 1605, Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed, guarding a stash of gunpowder in the cellar beneath the House of Lords. The king’s security forces swooped in and arrested him faster than you can say ‘plot twist’.

Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London, where he faced some serious interrogation. At first, he played it cool, refusing to spill the beans about his fellow conspirators. But after a few days of intense torture, he cracked like an egg and confessed. He was tried for treason and found guilty. On January 31, 1606, he faced a grim fate: hanging, followed by the gruesome practice of being drawn and quartered – definitely not the highlight of his career!

In a dramatic twist, Fawkes made a last-ditch effort to defy his fate. He reportedly leaped from the scaffold, breaking his neck and dying instantly. Thus avoiding the more gruesome parts of his execution.

Meanwhile, the other plotters either managed to escape or were captured. Many met a similarly grim end, either executed or captured during the manhunt.

Celebrating Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night, is commemorated in the UK on 5th November each year

The reason for celebrating is the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot and the saving of King James I’s life and the lives of the members of Parliament.

Thanksgiving in England

Here’s the thing … many of us are unaware that 5th November was first marked with public thanksgiving and celebrations, when Parliament passed the Thanksgiving Act in 1606, to make it an annual event.

The tradition of lighting bonfires and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes was a way to symbolically celebrate the survival of the monarch and the nation’s religious identity.

Over time, the celebration evolved into a more secular event. Marked by bonfires, fireworks and the burning of effigies, it’s a cultural tradition rather than a strictly political or religious observance. Today, it’s largely seen as a fun and historic event, though some still reflect on its deeper historical significance.

The Thanksgiving Act!

The Thanksgiving Act of 1606 was to commemorate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. It required the people of England to observe 5th November as a day of public thanksgiving. It mandated that prayers be said in churches across the country to give thanks for the survival of King James I and the preservation of the Protestant state. The Act made 5th November an official national day of thanksgiving and failing to observe it was considered a crime.

Repealed by Ed

However, over time, the Act lost its legal status. In 1859 the Act was formally repealed and no longer enforced. Th day became an event of cultural and historical significance rather than a religious obligation.

The celebration of Guy Fawkes Night continues as a popular tradition with fireworks, bonfires and the burning of effigies.

Bring back our National Holiday!

While other nations bask in the glow of an annual day of thankfulness, isn’t it time for England (and the whole of the UK) to dust off its own Thanksgiving Day?

We’re often teased with promises of introducing new national holidays, so why not revive the one that we already had!

Fun Facts! (or not)

England and Wales sadly scrape the bottom of the holiday barrel in Western Europe with a meager eight public holidays per year.

Meanwhile, Scotland enjoys a respectable 9, Northern Ireland a cozy 10, and our holiday-rich cousins across the pond in the USA boast a dazzling 11 federal holidays! 

However, a holiday deficit is hardly the spirit of the season. Therefore, before we light our torches and march on Parliament Square, let’s spread the word and breathe new life into this time-honoured tradition.

Imagine transforming our beloved autumn evening celebration into a true bank-holiday festival of gratitude, food, fireworks, and good old-fashioned fun!

Did you enjoy reading ‘Celebrating Bonfire Night: Guy Fawkes and The Thanksgiving Act!’?

If you enjoyed this article, ‘Celebrating Bonfire Night: Guy Fawkes and The Thanksgiving Act’, why not take another stroll down memory lane: ‘Yule Lore – Echos of the Ancient Celtic Winter’. Oozing spirituality as we reminisce and reinstate tradition Yuletide festivities!

Take a look at my ‘Yule Lore – Echos of the Ancient Celtic Winter’