Guy Fawkes Night by Mia

On November 5th there were tons of festivities going on in New Brighton. There was a fair with a Ferris wheel (they took that down because no one was going on it, it looked like it was about to fall over) and a few other rides and booths, and every one said there was going to be fireworks off the pier at 9 pm. We went even though we had no idea at all what the occasion was (except that it was Sarah's birthday, but I'm pretty sure her birthday isn't a national holiday-- yet).
 At about 8:45 we headed down to the beach to watch the fire works. There were a lot of other people heading do the beach too and there was a continuous string of explosions and sparks coming from people's yards. The air smelled of gun smoke, bringing back vivid memories of the shooting range in Alaska. I started wondering what would happen if you were blind and had no idea what was happening-- you would probably run for cover thinking you were being bombed. When we got down to the beach we saw that the entire expanse was covered in a huge crowd (probably the entire population of New Brighton and surrounding areas). Every here and there people were shooting off small fireworks and firecrackers. The crowd was dotted with sparklers which, strangely enough were mostly in the hands of small toddlers, which was stupid (like giving your kid fire on a stick! Except it spits sparks everywhere! I wouldn't even trust Zander with a sparkler, but that's Zander...). The crowd was moving slowly toward the pier and, at 9 pm the fire works started. It was amazing! Best. Fireworks. Ever. Even better than Disney Land! They were shooting them off from four spots spaced equally along the pier so they could get lots for fireworks in the air at once. There was pixie dust (my favorite, they look like pixie dust) and all sorts of huge exploding ones and the kind that goes up and sprays sparks everywhere (as you can see I have no idea what these things are called so just bear with me). The grand finale was a gigantic pixie dust one that looked like it was exploding right over us! It was gorgeous, and we still didn't know why the heck it was all happening! So, I did some research.
Guy Fawkes Night, (also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night,) is an annual holiday observed on November 5th. It started in England in 1605 celebrating the fact that King James I had survived an assassination attempt called the Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes was arrested for being involved in it and that is why the holiday is named after him. In celebration, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.The holiday is celebrated in England and many of the English colonies (including New Zealand, obviously), but not much in America because it was pretty much forgotten after the Revolution.

In modern day people light off fireworks and building bonfires to celebrate. They have big gatherings, barbeques, bonfires and fireworks. Its a big party! It is celebrated by most of the Commonwealth but mostly in England. Sometimes they throw dummies of Guy Fawkes or the Pope or even a few contemporary politicians in the fire. Before the festivities kids make dummies and some even parade around the streets asking for money 'for the Guy' (Guy meaning Guy Fawkes). People give them money that they spend on fireworks. They didn't really do that here just lots of fireworks!