British Culture ~ Holidays and Festivals: Bonfire Night

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November".

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and making progress learning English.

Tonight is Bonfire Night in the UK. This is a very British celebration that commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, Guy Fawkes (along with others) attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. To remember this, we set off fireworks and make big bonfires. Even as I sit here now I can hear people setting off fireworks.

It is a very British celebration, however, I remember celebrating Guy Fawkes when I was growing up in South Africa. I think both here in the UK and in South Africa it was an excuse to set off fireworks.

Have you ever heard of Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes? If you are ever in the UK around the 5th of November, remember to book a ticket to a fireworks display (normally on the weekend before or after the 5th) if you can!

Vocabulary list:
bonfire (noun) - a large outdoor fire, usually made for celebration or warmth
commemorate (verb) - to honor or remember a person or event, often with a ceremony or celebration
blow up (phrasal verb) - to explode
set off (phrasal verb) - to cause something to start, especially an explosion or alarm
an excuse to… - a reason (often not very serious) to do something you want to do anyway

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