Arakin 4 kurs new 001 176. indd

7. As you know the Americans and British have very much in common in 
their cultural traditions, for example Christmas and Halloween. But certain 
celebrations originating in historical events are particular to only one country. 
An example: this is the British Bonfire Night
a) Read the text:
Remember, remember, the fifth of November
Gunpowder Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy
When one person says of another, “What a guy!” it isn’t always 
meant as a compliment, and this can be explained by the history of 
the word. On November 5th in the year 1605 the famous Gunpowder 
Plot was perpetrated as a protest against the sharp enforcement of 
the anti-Catholic laws of King James I. The anniversary of this event 
is celebrated each year in England and is called Guy Fawkes Day in 
memory of the chief character in the drama. This fellow Fawkes took 
a house adjoining the Houses of Parliament in London, tunneled 
through to the cellar, and concealed a nice fat charge of gunpowder 
in the coal bin. Unfortunately one of those conspirators betrayed their 
leader and this led to the discovery of the plot and Guy Fawkes being 

---

tortured and hanged. On this day it is customary in England to carry 
an effigy of Fawkes through the streets and then to burn it. 1) The 
children ask passers-by the traditional phrase “Have you got a penny 
for the guy, please?” collecting the money to buy fireworks with. In 
the evening on the 5th of November, the children have a big bonfire, 
eat roast chestnuts and let off the fireworks. 2) Many other people, 
besides Guy Fawkes, have been burned as dummies on November 
5th... Napoleon Bonaparte became a “Guy” many times during his 
lifetime, and in 1945 a dummy of Hitler was burned on hundreds of 
fires all over Britain. 3) “Beefeaters” still search the cellars of the 
House of Commons and the House of Lords on the first day of a new 
Parliament, before members take their seats. They have always done 
so since 1605.