Remembering Guy Fawkes

For centuries, the infamous Guy Fawkes has started a tradition in many communities, every 5th of November a Bonfire is lit in places like Labrador and Newfoundland. This is done to keep a “burning tradition” alive.

While the City of St.Johns has put a ban on open fires, there are tons of surrounding municipalities that have community bonfires to mark the occasion. The celebration is in honor of Guy Fawkes failed plot attempt to assassinate King James in 1605, by blowing up London’s House of Lords.

Fawkes was captured and arrested on the 5th of November. He was convicted in the courts of high treason and executed. He became synonymous with the infamous “Gunpowder Plot,” and the failure is often commemorated in Britain, Canada and in other places in the world with a bonfire and a fireworks display.

Although the name Guy was not common in England, it might have been popular where Fawkes was born. In York, there was a notable local – Sir Guy Fairfax of Steeton. The masculine name Guy is from the Norman French name Wido that is the short for names that start with the Germanic element witu that means “wood” or wit that means “wide”. The name is often confused with a Latin name – Vitus.

The name was introduced by the Normans, where it became common in England until the time of the revolutionary Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up the British parliament. It took until the 19th century before the name was revived.