10 interesting facts about bonfire night

Bonfire night is on the way. But if you are honest with yourself, how much do you actually know about it?

If you’re completely clueless, don’t worry. Our job is to get you up to speed. This post will introduce you to 10 interesting facts about bonfire night that you probably haven’t heard before. Now you can impress everyone at your next get-together. Anything less would be treasonous!

Sparklers Are Ridiculously Hot

How hot do you think a sparkler burns? The answer is probably hotter than you think.

The temperature is actually between 1,000 and 1,500°C, which is hotter than steel’s melting point. That’s why you should always wear fire-proof gloves whenever you hold one and keep a bucket of water for the spent ends nearby.

Don’t take any chances!

The Cellar Where Guy Fawkes Placed The Gunpowder Was Later Destroyed By Fire

Everyone knows Guy Fawkes placed gunpowder in the cellars underneath Westminster Abbey and Hall. However, far fewer people are aware of the ironic fact that an accidental fire destroyed the same underground structure more than two centuries later.

Of course, the changes to modern Westminster resulting from the 1834 fire were far less calamitous than what Guy Fawkes attempted. His 2,500 kg of gunpowder would have destroyed the Houses of Parliament and neighbouring buildings.

Guy Fawkes Didn’t Die While Being Hung, Drawn And Quartered

Guy Fawkes is the poster child for being hung, drawn and quartered. But it turns out the conspirator didn’t meet his grizzly end this way. Instead, he committed suicide before his execution, after which authorities posthumously hung him and cut him up.

But before you say he sounds like a smart guy (ouch), remember he still got caught, along with all the rest of his compatriots.

The Gunpowder Guy Fawkes Used Probably Wouldn’t Have Exploded

Another little-known fact is the gunpowder Guy Fawkes used probably wouldn’t have detonated had he or one of his co-conspirators ignited it. Official investigations suggest it was too old to create the desired blast and would have more likely fizzled out or made a bad smell instead.

The Yeoman of the Guard Still Search The Houses Of Parliament For Gunpowder

As strange as it may sound, the official Yeoman of the Guard still conducts regular searches of the houses of parliament and other areas for gunpowder and explosives. Sniffer dogs regularly make their way through the corridors of power, alerting authorities of any attempt to re-attempt Guy Fawkes’ failed 16th-century coup.

People Can Still View The Lantern Guy Fawkes Carried When Caught In The Houses Of Parliament

If you go to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, you can still view the lantern Fawkes carried in the Houses of Parliament when attempting his dastardly deed. The object came to the museum from the University of Oxford close by.

Fireworks Were A Big Thing Before Bonfire Night

Historians believe the Chinese invented fireworks in the Far East in the 10th century AD, some 500 years before Guy Fawkes decided to blow up the houses of parliament. People discovered that mixing various kitchen ingredients, including sulphur, charcoal, and a salt substitute, produced colourful flames they could use in displays.

Later, Queen Elizabeth I developed a love for these exotic contraptions and turned them into an industry in England, still many decades before the 1605 plot. She would regularly tour the country looking for the best firework maker, bestowing him with the title “Fire Master of England.”

British People Had To Celebrate Bonfire Night By Law Until 1959

Another weird fact is that British people had to celebrate Bonfire Night until 1959 by law. The government was obsessed with ensuring everyone condemned Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators for nearly killing all the members of parliament, transforming the near-calamity into a pseudo-national holiday.

The only exception was St Peter’s School in York, where Guy Fawkes attended. The government thought it was unfair to make them burn an effigy of their former pupil.

The 5th Of November Is The Day Authorities Foiled Guy Fawkes’ Plot

Bonfire night is on November 5th, the day authorities foiled Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the houses of parliament. The event officially emerged just a couple of months after authorities foiled the plot when ministers designated it as a day of thanksgiving in January 1606.

The Conspirators Plotted At The Duck And Drake Pub In The Strand

Finally, historians believe Guy Fawkes and his conspirators plotted their destructive plans at the Duck and Drake Pub on the Strand. It probably started like any other drunken conversation but soon took on a life of its own.