
Celebrating Bonfire Night in York | Birthplace of the infamous Guy Fawkes

As we’ve found on our European Roadtrip Adventures, with so many cultures to show off — and so many centuries of practice — Europe knows how to throw a party. The array of fiestas, medieval fairs, music festivals, and national celebrations could light a fire under the most burned-out sightseer!!!!
Celebrating bonfire night in Guy fawkes birthplace


Pre-bonfire
pyrojuggling
Running from 4.30pm onwards, there was plenty for our kids to enjoy before the pyrojuggling started in the enormous playa area we discovered on our spooky Halloween Visit last month. Plus a range of hot food from hog roasts to toffee apples and roast chestnuts…..
Even time for some Roadschooling
So although our girls were desperate to see the fantastic fireworks spectacular we still had to use it for a new ‘Roadschooling Experience‘ so here’s a few facts that we found and thought we’d share with everyone:-
- Political protesters sometimes wear Guy Fawkes masks to protect their identity.
- The only place in the UK that does not celebrate Guy Fawkes Night is St Peter’s School
- Did you know that the 2,500kg of gunpowder Fawkes hid would have wreaked damage almost 500 metres from the centre of the explosion
- Fireworks were invented in the 10th century when a Chinese cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients – potassium nitrate or saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal and added it to a bamboo shoot……..hey presto fireworks were born!!!
- Fireworks arrived in Europe in the 14th century in Florence. The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
- Dummies were burned on bonfires to drive away evil spirits. Following the gunpowder plot of 1605 there was only one to use….. Guy Fawkes!!
- The term ‘bonfire’ might come from ‘bone-fire’ when the bodies of witches or heretics were burned instead of being buried in holy ground.
- The Houses of Parliament are still searched for gunpowder by the Yeomen of the Guard before the state opening.
York Maze
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