Guy Fawkes Night: A time for reflection?

Despite the famous rhyme ‘Remember remember the fifth of November’, many people seem to be forgetting this date. Despite a few displays of fireworks and bonfires, Bonfire Night seems to be losing its relevance and place in society. But why are celebrations of Guy Fawkes Night gradually dwindling and dying out? 

However, a key reason for the decline in the prevalence of Bonfire Night events is the environmental consequences of the celebrations, which are heavily associated with the date

The tradition of commemorating the failure of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, which intended to blow up and destroy the House of Lords, is somewhat outdated. Guy Fawkes, amongst other English Catholics, plotted to assassinate King James I to restore a Catholic monarch to the English throne. In the 21st century, this event feels very distant. 

Guy Fawkes Night hasn’t been commercialised like other holidays have been. For example, although the initial meaning behind Halloween may have been (for the most part at least) lost over the years, commercialisation has ensured the lasting relevance of this holiday. For most people, Halloween is merely an excuse to dress up in costumes. It is considered to be one of the biggest party nights in the UK, for both adults and children alike.  

However, a key reason for the decline in the prevalence of Bonfire Night events is the environmental consequences of the celebrations, which are heavily associated with the date. Last year, air pollution reached a level seven in Yorkshire out of the government’s 10-point scale, and in most places, the worst air pollution was found on 5 November. There have been attempts to minimise the harm caused by the combination of bonfires and fireworks, such as using compressed air instead of chemical propellants to launch fireworks, as well as using drones to create light displays instead of chemicals.  

In a society where silent fireworks are readily available, warning before potentially triggering and harmful displays hardly seems a lot to ask

The shock of the loud noise produced by fireworks has been known to trigger war veterans and pets as well. Restricting the sale of fireworks to people in charge of running approved events would prevent what Pete White, an RAF veteran who served in Afghanistan, describes as “significant panic attacks” for him and other ex-soldiers. Some major supermarkets, such as Sainsbury’s, no longer sell fireworks. Laura Stoker, animal behaviourist and trainer, claims that she and business partner Rachel Trafford frequently worked with dogs who became “incredibly ill” as a result of the loud noises. She said: “It’s having too much of an impact for them [fireworks] to be as freely available as they are.” In a society where silent fireworks are readily available, warning before potentially triggering and harmful displays hardly seems a lot to ask.   

So, although Bonfire Night certainly used to be a much bigger and more prominent date in the calendar, people are increasingly less aware of the Gunpowder Plot, which lies at the core of Guy Fawkes Night. Even if they do understand this backstory, it may seem like a strange thing to still celebrate, exacerbating the decline in what many of us may remember as roasting marshmallows at bonfires and playing fair games as part of childhood Guy Fawkes celebrations.  

All of this isn’t to say that we should, or even are likely to, stop acknowledging 5 November. Rather, it seems logical that, especially in our increasingly climate-conscious world, we make a strong effort to adapt our celebrations in order to avoid unnecessarily causing any harm to our environment and those who live in it.