The history of Bonfire Night is commemorated every 5th of November. It is marked by colorful explosions and of course, several bonfires. It is a celebration of the foiled attempt by Guy Fawkes to destroy Parliament.

Background Information

When King James ascended to the throne, English Catholics hoped that the religious policy would change. Under Queen Elizabeth I, the Catholics were forbidden to practice their religious belief. However, King James I didn’t repeal any of these laws. If anything, things just got worse.

Not only were they still forbidden to practice their belief, but penalties were imposed on people who didn’t attend Protestant sermons. What made it worse was that King James was the son of Mary, Queen of the Scots and a devout Catholic.

Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

The history of Bonfire Night began in 1605. A group of Catholics led by Robert Catesby devised a plot to kill the king. They would plant explosives in the House of Parliament. One of the men with him was Guy Fawkes.

The first thing they did was to purchase a house near Parliament. There they modified the cellar so it was connected to the Parliament building itself. The plot was to place some gunpowder there. When the King arrived they would blow it up.

The Discovery of the Plot

It was Guy Fawkes who was given the task of watching over the gunpowder. Kept in barrels, he was supposed to light them up. On November 5 however, some soldiers on patrol saw him hiding in the cellar. The history of Bonfire Night would change forever.

Not only was his presence suspicious, but there was gun powder all over him. The soldiers became suspicious. He was taken prisoner. Under torture, Fawkes eventually admitted the whole plot. He also named the other people involved.

The King was duly informed. Thankful for the discovery, he decreed that every 5th of November a celebration be held. It would consist of lighting bonfires.

Besides the usual patrolling, there was another reason why Guy Fawkes was discovered. There was a leak in their camp. It was Francis Tresham who helped alter the history of Bonfire Night.

After Catesby and Fawkes devised the plan, Tresham sent a message to Lord Monteagle. Because he was Tresham’s brother in law, Tresham felt he had to warn him. Monteagle went on to inform the other
members of Parliament.

The result was that more soldiers were on guard. As they patrolled the area, they eventually came upon Guy Fawkes.

The Celebration Today

Today the event is marked by colorful fireworks. It is also noted for the burning of various effigies. In Britain it is accompanied by the singing of various hymns including God Save the Queen. Today it is also observed in other parts of the world, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The history of Bonfire Night is marked today by revelry. Although its origin lay in the attempted violent overthrow of a king, it has become an occasion for fun.

Nothing can match the superior satisfaction that people can get from being free. This is the very essence of Independence Day in the U.S. Also called the Fourth of July, this holiday celebrates that great moment when the country finally acquired its liberty from the foreign power who once took it. This specific date is highly important to the U.S. as well as to its citizens because it served as a huge turning point in the nation’s history.

The Reason Why People Celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July

Why is Independence Day Celebrated on July 4th? It was on July 4, 1776 when the Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of Independence. Written by Thomas Jefferson, this all-important statement declared the independence of 13 American colonies from the British Empire. Because of this historic move, these colonies became independent states, which later on became the United States of America.

Every July 4th of each year, U.S. citizens celebrate Independence Day in commemoration of that crucial point in American history. This holiday is marked with colorful parades in the morning, carnivals in the afternoon and fireworks displays in the evening. Special ceremonies are also held, featuring government officials and politicians delivering inspiring speeches for everyone. The entire day is filled with festivities as the people reminisce the special day when the country acquired its freedom.

Independence Day is a perfect occasion for playing patriotic hymns and songs. To inspire the people, different kinds of inspiring nationalistic songs are played all throughout the day including “This Land Is Your Land,” “the Star-Spangled Banner” and “Yankee Doodle.” Many people also play other songs during this special event such as “America the Beautiful,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” as well as “God Bless You.”

Another important highlight for the day is the military gun salute, which happens at noon. This tradition is also referred to as a salute to the Union. Of course, there are fireworks displays to add more life, color and spirit to the country’s celebration of freedom, history and tradition. These colorful displays of special pyrotechnics are conducted in various parts of the U.S. These include the National Mall in Washington D.C., Lake Michigan in Chicago and East River in New York.

One of the biggest and grandest events for this national holiday takes place at Detroit River in Michigan. The City of Detroit coordinates with the City of Windsor in Ontario yearly to host the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival. This event is held, not only to celebrate the Independence Day in the U.S., but also the Canadian statutory federal holiday called Canada Day.

Wherever it’s held the scenes at carnivals are full of color, pageantry and pure frenzy. Yet behind it all, there are many reasons why people celebrate Mardi Gras.

Fat Tuesday

The carnival is also called Fat Tuesday, as it takes place before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. So Fat Tuesday or carnival is the last chance for people to enjoy themselves before turning to prayers and meditation. So while the scene is filled with frenzy and partying, there are actually religious undertones beneath it all.

It’s worth noting that the carnival is another example of how the Church managed to fuse the pagan elements with Christian themes. Unable to stop the populace from participating, the authorities infused it with a religious element.

To Promote Tourism

Another reason why people celebrate Mardi Gras is that it helps the tourist industry. In places like New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, the carnival plays an important role in the economy. Every year, thousands of people attend these street parties. This boosts the income from the tourism industry. In return it gives the government more money to fund projects.

The carnival also provides livelihood. Some people make their living creating the extravagant outfits. Others earn their keep from body painting and making floats. If the carnival were to be stopped, several industries would be affected.

Aside from the carnival itself, the event gives a country or locality the chance to promote itself as a tourist haven. So it would be correct to say that a major reason why people celebrate Mardi Gras is for economic gain.

So People Can Get Together

Since ancient times, carnival has been the only time when class and social status dissolve. Rich and poor come together on the streets to party. For communities and towns, it’s their chance to work together for a common cause. In Rio there are competitions for the best float, best dress etc. This allows people to work hand in hand.

Carnival is also the time when individuals can allow themselves to be what they want to be without society condemning their behavior. Cross dressing, exposing breasts and other behavior that may normally be considered bizarre become acceptable.

During ancient times, the reason why people celebrated Mardi Gras was to give everyone the chance to be equal. Even today, people look forward to carnival if only for this reason. During this time the borders separating gender, age and belief disappear.

To Have Fun

Finally, people join carnival just to let their hair down. Throughout the whole year everyone is stressed out. Carnival gives them the opportunity to relax. Some people watch the carnivals just to see the colorful floats.

For others, what draws them in are the street dancing and drinking. Of course for the devoted, it’s still the time for them to enjoy before settling down to reflect during Lent.

There are numerous reasons why people celebrate Mardi Gras. For those who take part in it, there’s no need to explain why. The only thing that matters is that they enjoy.

One of the special events celebrated in European and American regions, Mardi Gras pertains to exciting, interesting and enjoyable activities held a day before Ash Wednesday. Some of the cities in the world that are popular for celebrating this event are Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, New Orleans in Louisiana as well as Sydney in Australia. Different activities are organized at this time like cultural presentations, feasts and carnival parades. Mardi Gras literally means Shrove Tuesday to French. To extend our understanding on this celebration, it is best to know the various reasons why most people refer to Mardi Gras as Fat Tuesday.

Reasons

Why is Mardi Gras called Fat Tuesday? Mardi Gras is held a day before the start of Lent season. Eating excessive amount of food is prohibited during the season. Because some nations value this season, residents in these countries observe famous Lent practices like fasting. The primary reason why Mardi Gras is called Fat Tuesday is because at this day, most people in the above mentioned cities consume all the foods in their homes that are forbidden or not allowed during the Lent such as eggs, butter and sugar. One of the most popular foods served during Mardi Gras is pancake.

French people refer to this event as Shrove Tuesday since it will be the last time to hold merrymaking activities, which involved the excessive consumption of drinks and foods. The events held at this day differ on countries that celebrate Mardi Gras. To know more about Fat Tuesday, let us have a closer look on how the event is celebrated in different countries.

Mardi Gras in Brazil and Canada

Some of the most important activities at Shrove Tuesday in Brazil are the parades, street parties and feasts. The residents of Salvador, Recife and Rio de Janeiro regularly observe this celebration. Mardi Gras is also celebrated in the industrialized cities of Canada such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. In Quebec, almost a million people participate in this special event, which features interesting activities like food, music as well as comedy festivals.

Shrove Tuesday in the U.S. and England

The tradition is practiced in some of the major cities of America such as New Orleans in Louisiana. The practice was brought by French people who stayed in New Orleans in the 1700s. In England, some cities hold the Pancake Day during Shrove Tuesday. This is a festival, which features foods that are rich in sugar, butter and eggs like pancakes.

Definitely one of the much-awaited holidays in the U.S., this festive celebration is marked by colorful fireworks displays, inspiring political speeches and entertaining music concerts. Add to that, it is also one of the nicest times for families, relatives and friends to spend some quality time together and hold special activities like picnics and barbecues. For those who wish to know why people celebrate Independence Day, it is best to look at U.S. history and learn the various important aspects behind this special celebration.

The Importance of Independence Day

Why do we celebrate Independence Day? The primary purpose of celebrating this special day is to commemorate the so-called independence of the United States from what was once known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the so-called Declaration of Independence was finally adopted. Dubbed as the Fourth of July, this day is devoted to celebrate the rich traditions, the colorful history as well as the founding of a good independent government.

During this special day of celebration, public events are held to praise the people, laws and heritage of the country. It is a time when numerous politicians appear publicly to join the citizens and engage in different kinds of happy ceremonies. It is quite normal to see vivid decorations such as clothing, balloons and streamers. People can find blue, white and red colors all over the nation. In the morning, citizens join parades while awesome fireworks displays happen at night in public spots like town squares, fairgrounds and parks.

Patriotic songs are played almost everywhere. These include inspiring and meaningful songs like “Dixie,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and “America the Beautiful.” Other songs that people play during this special day are “Yankee Doodle,” “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “God Bless America.” Of course, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which is the national anthem of the country, is played at the start of almost every event that is scheduled for that day. These songs perfectly complement the celebration because they all speak about history and tradition.

At noon, a gun salute for each U.S. state is fired. This interesting practice is referred to as salute to the union. When evening comes, excellent fireworks displays are held in different locations including the Mississippi River in Saint Louis, the Charles River in Boston and the Mission Bay in San Diego. In addition, displays of beautiful fireworks are also held near the National Mall in Washington D.C., at Lake Michigan in Chicago and at the East River in New York. Another major celebration to mark the U.S. Independence Day is the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, which is considered one of the biggest and grandest displays of fireworks worldwide.