Five things you never knew about Bonfire Night
As Bonfire Night preparations get underway, we take a look at some of the lesser known facts about ‘Guy Fawkes Night’.
originated in Ancient China
Made in China over 2000 years ago, the Chinese originally believed that the fireworks could expel evil spirits and bring about luck and happiness. From the shores of China, fireworks spread across the world and became popular in other cultures for a variety of different reasons.
Twelve men were behind the terrifying ’Gunpowder Plot’
Interestingly, Guy Fawkes was only one of a number of co-conspirators who plotted the demise of the Monarchy, the leader was in fact a Robert Catersby.
A mysterious Letter was sent to Lord Monteagle on October 26th 1605, warning him of imminent danger, the origin of the letter is still unknown and remains In the National Archives
On Friday November 1st 1605, an anonymous letter which had been given to the Earl of Salisbury was shown to the King. The contents of the letter revealed the existence of a plot created by disgruntled Catholics to eliminate the King. It was a time of great social upheaval, with Catholics and Protestants always at odds. Catholics were finding themselves becoming increasingly marginalised by the Protestant Church of England, which was the Church of the Monarch.
Guy Fawkes was the first Conspirator to be caught by the authorities
The kegs of gun powder were discovered on the morning of November the 5th, along with a cloaked figure who turned out to be Guy Fawkes, who had been guarding the deadly amount of gunpowder due to his expertise as a former solider. The gunpowder was in a chamber located directly beneath the House of Lords. To this day when the Queen performs her State visit to Parliament, the Royal Guards will complete a search of the cellars, though this has become more of a ritual, rather than a genuine security check.
The deadly amount of Gunpowder would have created one of the largest explosions in history to that point.
In 2005, ITV recreated the gunpowder plot, amassing the exact amount of gunpowder which the plotters had gathered for their terrifying scheme. The power of the explosion surprised even the experts, with 7 foot deep solid concrete walls reduced to rubble. According to the findings, the stained glass windows of Westminster Abbey would have been shattered. The power of the explosion would have been heard at least five miles away, and seen from much further, with falling debris harming many more within its deadly radius.
Remember, whether you are attending locally organised events, or lighting the bonfire in your back garden, it is going to very cold. Ensure your child is well protected from the cold November night, our iCandy blanket collection is particularly good for this time of year. The luxury iCandy Blanket Collection has been designed to add comfort and protection to a child’s adventures, ideal for viewing spectacular fireworks. The Blanket range offers a variety of possibilities for a parent, from the style and colour of the blanket, to the material which will suit all tastes and weather conditions. The wool collection, which comes with a keep sake box is particularly useful in the cold weather conditions. Wrap your child in one of our luxury blankets and marvel together at the stunning firework displays.
We wish everyone all the best for this year’s festivities, enjoy a safe and warm spectacle as fireworks dominate the Countries skyline. Enjoy this great tradition and make sure you and your family wrap warm this winter.