In 1605 a group of English Catholics, angry because the King of England, James the first, was treating them badly, made a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament. An enormous explosion was planned for November 5th, the day that the King was due to open parliament. The plan is known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ and the leader of the group was a man called Guy Fawkes. On November 5th people remember the plot by celebrating ‘Bonfire Night’. All over Britain there are firework displays and bonfires with effigies of Guy Fawkes, which are burned on the fire. This video from The British Council's LearnEnglish site explores the origins of the festival and looks at how it's celebrated now.
You can find a transcript of the video and some comprehension tasks on the British Council website.
BONFIRE NIGHT RESOURCES
• British Council worksheets and PDF downloads
• Bonfire Night Lesson (British Council)
• Bonfire Night - 5th November (Woodlands Junior School)
• Gunpowder Plot Game (BBC)
• Gunpowder Plot's Paintings (BBC)
• Bonfire Night - 5th November (BBC Schools)
