History of Bonfire Night

The History of Bonfire Night makes a great informative speech topic

Have you ever wondered why on November 5th many British people, stand around in the freezing cold, eating burnt sausages, watching a heap of old clothes called Guy Fawkes burn on a bonfire?

You might have heard the phrases Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes Night, and questioned how they had anything to do with the spectacular firework displays that take place on November 5th.

Alternatively, maybe you just thought it was another quaint English custom and was not interested in it historical significance.

The history of bonfire night and its significance to today’s fireworks display events provides you with a good speech topic.

So if you are stuck for ideas as to what to talk about at a public speaking presentation, consider retelling the tale of the Gunpowder Plot.

Your History Of Bonfire Night Speech

Organise your speech by following a basic speech outline
Use attention getting opening statements such as:

• did you know there were at least 12 conspirators involved in the Gunpowder Plot,
• or that Guy Fawkes alias was John Johnson? 

Have a clear understanding of the History of Bonfire Night facts
Also known as:

• The Gunpowder Plot
• Guy Fawkes Night

List of Conspirators

• Robert Catesby ( Ringleader)
• Guy Fawkes (Guido Fawkes)
• Thomas Bates
• Sir Everard Digby
•  Robert Keyes
• Thomas Percy
• Ambrose Rokewood
• Francis Tresham
• Thomas Winter
• Robert Winter
• Christopher Wright
• John Wright

The Date of Gunpowder Plot :

• 5th November 1605

What happened:

• On the night of 5 November 1605 a group of Roman Catholics planned to assassinate King James l along with the rest of Parliament as they attended the ceremonial State Opening of Parliament.

Reason:

• Their intention was to remove everyone in government and. return England to the Catholic faith.

Number of barrels of explosives :

• 36

Who Was Guy Fawkes? :

• He was the explosive expert, and his duties was to guard the 36 barrels of explosives and light the fuse on  November 5th.

Why did plot fail?

• It failed because  the police received an anonymous tip off. Guy Fawkes was found in the basement with a fuse in his pocket

What was his alias?

• John Johnson

Execution Date :

• 31st Jan 1606 at Old Palace Yard Westminster. He actually died by breaking his neck when jumping from the gallows and was not executed.

Other interesting bonfire night facts to add to your talk

• 2005 was the history 400th anniversary and a commemorative British two-pound coin was issued.
• In the UK bonfire night is more popular than Halloween
• There are quite a few Guy Fawkes landmarks and even a few geographic locations named after him including.
• Isla Guy Fawke,  Galápagos Islands
• Guy Fawkes River, Australia.

Guy Fawkes Night is more commonly referred to as Bonfire Night.

There are many amazing firework displays lighting up the night of November 5th. Their significance is to represent he explosion that would have occurred if Guy Fawkes was able to light the fuse.

Paint a vivid picture of Bonfire Night Celebrations so your audience can feel they are there.

Tell them how the:

• The air is full of smoke from the thousands of bonfires
• The streets are busy with cars driving to and from firework displays.
• They are many overtired young children who have been allowed to stay up late to enjoy the festivities
• The usually quiet streets are now full of people dressed in heavy coats, hats and scarfs to keep the cold autumn chills out.
• Dogs and cats are locked away, in the relatively safety of their homes. Any you do see are usually petrified and lost.

However, it is not all doom and gloom there, there is a bonfire night party atmosphere.

Tell them about how people celebrate bonfire night today by:

• Holding a Guy Fawkes Night Party in their back garden. Or attending an organised bonfire display.
• Good firework displays are usually held all around the country, with the most well known being Lewes bonfire night celebration.
• Each events has a great big bonfire to keep people warm and to burn Guy Fawkes effigies.
• A bonfire food menu include jacket spuds, hot dogs, warm drinks., toffee apples

In the weeks leading up to bonfire night, children will make life size Guy Fawkes Effigy to burn upon the blazing fire. They are made out of old clothes and stuffed with rags.

Some children will even walk the streets with the old street saying 'penny for the guy,’ a penny is a English coin, with the proceeds going to their firework fund, which nowadays only adults can buy because of the firework code.

Finish your speech strongly. You could end with a traditional bonfire night rhyme such as:

• Remember, remember the fifth of November, gun powder, treason and plot.
• Or maybe a call to action, such as doing some bonfire night craft.

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