A Lady in London

On November 5, 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes was arrested in London. His crime? He was about to set off explosives in an attempt to kill King James I and the Protestant aristocracy. The incident quickly became known as the Gunpowder Plot.

Bizarrely, the English decided to commemorate the day Mr. Fawkes was caught with a generous quantity of gunpowder. To this day, Brits celebrate the anniversary of the attempted assassination on what is now known as Guy Fawkes Day.

Last Wednesday was the 403rd anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, and as such there were bonfires and fireworks all over London throughout the week. The steady popping sound of fireworks serenaded me every night from the Saturday before Bonfire Night all the way through the Sunday after.

One night I decided to see what all the excitement was about. I went with a friend down to the Thames, where the Lord Mayor’s Fireworks display took place. We arrived early, but both banks of the river were already packed with spectators. Finding ourselves a spot for viewing, we waited in the freezing cold until the show started.

Unfortunately, the show began late and only lasted five or ten minutes. It was a bit disappointing, and probably used even less gunpowder than Guy Fawkes stockpiled for his assassination attempt. But it was still fun to see some fireworks, especially after hearing them all night throughout the week.