Remember Remember.....

While America adopted the european successor to Samhain as Halloween Britain developed a celebration all of its own.
James I of England and VI of Scotland came to the throne of England in 1601 and was the first king of both countries. He was very anti-Catholic and also interested in Witches; burning a number of alleged witches during his reign and writing a book on how to identify them.
There were a number of plots to oust him and replace him with a Catholic King.
Every year the king would go to Parliament to open it in the autumn. The Queen still does this today. All the leading Nobles and politicians would be present.
In 1605 a plot was discovered to blow up the Houses of Parliament , killing the King and most of the  Lords in the hope of putting a Catholic on the British throne.  One of the conspirators warned a relative not to attend. He told the army and a search found barrels of gunpowder in a cellar under the building and arrested a man tending it, Guy Fawkes, who was soon executed.
This happened on November the 5th and when in subsequent years bonfires were seen they were said to be in thanksgiving of the King being saved and nothing to do with witches.
So every year we British celebrate the 5th of November with Bonfires and fireworks and burn an effigy or "Guy" made from stuffed old clothes and a mask and often we call it "Guy Fawkes Night".
Children are taught the rhyme

"Remember Remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

Guy Fawkes

All the "Gunpowder Plot" conspirators