Ever wonder why we have a fireworks bonfire at night? Heard the Guy Fawkes stories but he never really knew what the story was about? Read on to discover the story behind Bonfire Night: November 5.

In 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes and some helpers tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London using 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar. His plan was to kill King James and his leaders because of some laws against Roman Catholics. The group of men led by Robert Catesby believed that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly. Catholics had to practice their religion in secret.

The group of men bought a house next to the parliament building because the basement was under the parliament building, they planned to blow up the parliament when the King opened the parliament next time. Some of the men chickened out and let the plan slip, prompting the King to make plans to stop this attack.

Of the group of men, Guy Fawkes was assigned the job of guarding the powder kegs and then lighting the fuse at the right time. On the morning of November 5, soldiers discovered Guy hiding in the basement and arrested him. He was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and questioned about the rest of the conspirators. He was finally executed.

To celebrate the survival of King James, he ordered the people of England to make a great bonfire every year on the night of November 5. Some of us English have been known to wonder, ironically, whether we are celebrating Fawkes’s execution or honoring his attempt to bring down the government.

In London this November 5th there is a display at Bishops Park which is open from 6:00pm, with the fireworks display between 7:30pm and 8:00pm Crystal Palace has a fireworks display which opens from 6:00 p.m., and the fireworks display is between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Wimbledon fireworks display is open from 6:30 p.m., and the fireworks display between 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Whether you want to celebrate the survival of King James or honor Guy Fawkes and his conspirators trying to take down the government, there will be plenty of bonfire nights in your area. Even if you couldn’t care less about the story of the night, standing around a campfire to watch fireworks streak across the sky is a great way to spend one night a year.