I have a friend from school who moved to Scotland when we were 12. While I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, I received a text from him inviting my friends and me to Portobello Beach to celebrate Bonfire Night. Of course, we wanted to go to the beach, but what is Bonfire Night?
Bonfire night falls on the anniversary of a plot to take out the English king over 500 years ago! Along with many other people on the beach, we lit fireworks, sat around a bonfire, played frisbee and swam in the North Sea. Since this was later at night, and in November, the water was freezing, so we used the bonfire to warm up. It was a fun night to spend with friends, learning about their traditions.
Back when he became king in 1603, King James I of England had a different religion from some of his subjects, which separated them from him. Life became unfair for anyone who was Catholic because James was as Protestant king. Because of this, fact some men became so upset that they tried to use gunpowder to take out the king. The main man in this plot, Guy Fawkes, was caught in the end, and the king survived. Now, people light fireworks in remembrance of this dramatic event.
