FIREWORKS!

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FIREWORKS!
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Bonfire night is a celebration that takes place
on November 5th. It can also be known as Guy
Fawkes night or Fireworks night. Three things
make Bonfire Night special 1. There is a blazing
bonfire that lights up the November sky. 2. There
is a dummy or Guy that sits on top of the
bonfire. 3. There are fantastic fireworks that
add sparkling lights and sound effects to the
celebrations as the whistle, screech and bang
into the air.
Celebrations on 5th November remember an event
that happened in 1605. On that day the lives of
King James and his parliament were in danger as a
plot to blow them up was discovered. Guy Fawkes
was caught in the cellar with barrels of
gunpowder.
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Remember, remember!
Here is a famous childrens rhyme about Guy
Fawkes Remember, remember the fifth of
November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no
reason, why gunpowder treason Should ever be
forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes 'Twas his
intent To blow up the houses of parliament, Three
score barrels of powder below Poor old England to
overthrow. By Gods providence, he was
catched With a dark lantern and a burning match!
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The Gunpowder Plot
The leader of the plot to blow up the King was
not Guy Fawkes but a man called Robert Catesby.
His plan was to rent a house next door to the
Houses of Parliament and dig an underground
tunnel leading into the cellar of the Parliament
buildings. They would then use the gunpowder to
blow the buildings up.
The men rented the house and started to dig a
tunnel. They stored 36 barrels of gunpowder in
the cellar ready for the state opening on
November 5th. They covered it with firewood to
hide it from the soldiers and Lord Mounteagle. At
first they didnt see it, but then the soldiers
came and the plot was uncovered.
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Guy Fawkes was discovered with barrels of
gunpowder. He was not the leader of the plot, but
he was an expert with gunpowder. Guy was in fact
his nick name. His real name was Guido.
Guido was born in York and went to St. Peters
School. He made friends with two brothers at
school, John and Christopher Wright, years later
they all became members of the Gunpowder Plot.
When Guido left school he became a soldier. While
he was fighting in Spain he learnt how to use
gunpowder.
After he had been captured by the Lord Chancellor
and the Lord Mounteagle, he was imprisoned in the
Tower of London and tortured but he would not
give the names of the other plotters. They were
all eventually caught and found guilty of treason
and killed. Their heads were cut off and left on
top of wooden poles in the centre of London.
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Penny For The Guy!
At one time in the days leading up to Bonfire
Night, children could be seen on street corners
asking anyone who passed to give a penny for the
Guy. The children made a stuffed dummy using old
clothes, newspaper and sometimes straw. The dummy
often wore a mask and was sat in a wheelbarrow.
The dummy represented Guy Fawkes. It would be
burnt on the bonfire on November 5th.
Begging for a penny for the guy was a way in
which children could collect money to buy
fireworks. Children under 18 are no longer
allowed to buy fireworks so the custom of penny
for the guy has started to die out. Sometimes,
Guys are made to collect money for charity.
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Bonfire Night Facts!
The Celts used to have a celebration called
Samhain which means Summers end.It was at the
end of October or the beginning of November. They
also lit huge bonfires and had torchlight
processions.
Bonfire Night was first celebrated in 1606 on the
anniversary of the plot to kill King James.
An ancient Christian festival involving fire and
fireworks was held hundreds of years ago in
November. It was in memory of St. Catherine who
was put to death on a spiked wheel. We now have
wheel shaped firecrackers called Catherine Wheels.
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The History of Fireworks.
The first fireworks were made in China nearly
2000 years ago. They were made using pieces of
hollow bamboo to hold the gunpowder in and were
known as firecrackers. Fireworks used to be
used at religious ceremonies in China.
The famous explorer Marco Polo was said to have
brought fireworks to Europe. Florence, a city in
Italy became the place where most fireworks were
made. The first recorded use of fireworks in
England was in 1486 at the wedding of King Henry
VII.
The first fireworks were only gold and silver.
They were very popular by the time of King Henry
VIII and Elizabeth I had a master to organise her
fireworks events. Her displays could be 183
metres long and 27 metres high.
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Over 130 million fireworks were sold in Britain
last year
Last year there were over 1500 recorded accidents
involving fireworks.
At family garden displays, sparklers cause more
injuries than any other firework.
DANGEROUS fireworks
The majority of firework accident happen to
children under 14.
Throwing a firework is a criminal offence with a
fine of 5000
Three sparklers burning together create the same
heat as a blow torch.
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The Firework Code
Fireworks look beautiful, but they can be very
dangerous. You should follow these rules when
using fireworks Never go near or use fireworks
without an adult. Keep fireworks in a box or tin
and get them out one at a time. Keep a bucket of
water close by. Follow the instructions on each
firework carefully. Direct fireworks away from
people watching. Use a taper or firework lighter
and light them at arms length. Do not return to a
firework even if it looks like it has gone
out. Do not throw fireworks or put them in your
pocket. Keep pets indoors Stand well back
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Some advice...
Sparklers are viewed as harmless but they burn at
high temperatures. Wear gloves and hold it at
arms length. Never wave sparklers at other
people, you could burn them. When the sparkler
has finished put it into a bucket of water or
sand and leave it there.
Make sure bonfires are well away from houses and
trees. Never use flammable liquids like petrol to
get a bonfire going. Before lighting a bonfire
check there are no animals hiding in it. Light
the bonfire after the fireworks have gone
off. Dont throw anything onto a bonfire.
If someones clothes catch fire remember STOP
dont run DROP to the ground ROLL over to smother
the flames
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Firework Poems
Fireworks make loud noises when they fly into the
sky. Look are the sounds below. We call sound
words ONOMATEOPIA words
crash
bang
crackle
sizzle
blast
snap
pop
w h i z z
whoosh
fizz
whirl
boom
Can you make up a fireworks poem using these
words? Try reading this one first!
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Bonfire Night Poem
The fire was burning orange and bright, The
sparks were jumping into the night, Crackling,
spitting, hissing and popping, Flames were
leaping, dancing and bopping. Catherine wheels
whizzed around and around Leaving a trail of
sparks on the ground Up go rockets, way up
high Into the depths of the black night sky.
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With a sizzle and a sudden great boom, A speeding
rocket goes up high, BOOM! For a awhile it went
silent, many did cower, Until down on the crowds
came a bright colourful shower. Screamers whizzed
and bangers banged, Sparklers sparkled, where did
the sparks land? A night full of surprises,
excitement and fun, Without Guy Fawkes, what
would we have done?