Fawkes, Guy

Full Name: Guy Fawkes

Nationality: English | Activity: English conspirator

Born: 1570 | Died: 31-01-1606

On the night of the anniversary huge bonfires are lit on village greens. Fireworks are exploded, and grotesque stuffed figures called guys are tossed into the fire. For a few days before the event many children carry the guys in the streets. They ask passers-by to “please spare a penny for the guy.” The money that the children collect is then spent on fireworks.

Guy Fawkes was not the leader of the Gunpowder Plot. His name is connected with it, however, because as a military man he was to be in charge of the actual explosion. King James had been dealing harshly with the Roman Catholics. A group of them, headed by Robert Catesby, hatched the plot, hoping to seize power in the confusion that would follow. Thirty barrels of gunpowder were hidden in a cellar under Parliament House.

One of the plotters could not resist warning a friend to stay away. This led to the discovery of the gunpowder on November 5. All the conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, were executed.

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Source: Encyclopedia Britannica