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November 5
Bon Fire Night
Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated annually on November 5th. The origin of this celebration stems from events which took place in 1605 and was a conspiracy known as "The Gunpowder Plot," intended to take place on November 5th of that year (the day set for the opening of Parliament). The object of The Gunpowder Plot was to blow up English Parliament along with the ruling monarch, King James I. It was hoped that such a disaster would initiate a great uprising of English Catholics, who were distressed by the increased severity of penal laws against the practice of their religion.
The conspirators, who began plotting early in 1604, eventually expanded their members to a point where secrecy was impossible. While the plot itself was the work of a small number of men, it provoked hostility against all British Catholics and led to an increase in the harshness of laws against them. Even to this day, it is the law that no Roman Catholic may hold the office of monarch and the reigning king or queen remains Supreme Head of the Church of England.
It is believed that the very night the Gunpower Plot was thwarted in 1605, bonfires were lit in London to celebrate its defeat of the Catholics. As early as 1607, there is a record of bonfire celebrations taking place in Bristol.
Newfoundland Bonfire Night
In Newfoundland barrels of any sort which are left unprotected are 'bucked.”
Traditionally in Newfoundland November 5th was the big celebration for the Anglicans. The Catholics never took part, understandably thinking about the original Guy Fawkes Night.
They tried to make really big bonfires, sometimes with full blubber barrels, to rile the Romans. (source: 1977 Decks Awash vi (3), p. 54 )
There was also the tradition in some communities that a few tar barrels were put outside for the boys who'd be going around getting stuff for the bonfire... They would set the tar barrel afire and you could see the fire for miles around.
/Remember, remember the Fifth of November,/
/The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,/
/I know of no reason/
/Why Gunpowder Treason/
/Should ever be forgot./
/Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent/
/To blow up King and Parliament./
/Three-score barrels of powder below/
/To prove old England's overthrow;/
/By God's providence he was catch'd/
/With a dark lantern and burning match./
/Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring./
/Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!/
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
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Larry Dohey
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s
P.O. Box 1363
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
709-726-3660
E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com
We hope that you have enjoyed this archival moment.
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