This Friday, November 5th, join us in celebrating Guy Fawkes Night!!

This Friday, November 5th, join us in celebrating Guy Fawkes Night!! 

What:             Guy Fawkes Night Celebrations (see below for historical background)

Where:           The Community Garden (or OSL 243 in case of rain)

When:             Fri Nov 5th, 7:30pm – 11:00pm

Expect:           Feuerkorbs, Sparklers, S’Mores, Mulled wine, and more!

BYO:               Drinks, Cups, Individual food if you want more than S’Mores and Mulled wine

Covid:            

  • 2G + Test
    --> Note: You can get a test for 1 euro in GOT 010, Mon-Fri 7:30 – 10am! Otherwise, you can do a self-test 
    --> Please bring your photo ID, your certificate, and a photo of yourself holding your negative test
  • Food can only be consumed outside 
  • Masks must be worn inside
  • Please "check in" on the Luca app
  • For hygiene reasons, please bring your own cups, beverages and food (aside from S’Mores, which will be individually packaged)

Brought to you by your Student Representatives and Michelle Witen. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at fv-englisch@uni-flensburg.de or michelle.witen-PleaseRemoveIncludingDashes-@uni-flensburg.de.

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What is Guy Fawkes Night you ask?

...Let’s go back to Early Modern England circa 1600. The religious strife between the Catholics and the Protestants, which had begun with Henry VIII’s establishment of the Church of England, has reached another climax with the ascension of James I to the English throne in 1603. 

The Catholics, after a failed attempt to re-Catholicize England, starting sending a rosary to Queen Anne, organized an elaborate assassination attempt of James I and all the major decision makers of England by planting explosives under Parliament. This was set to detonate at the opening of the Parliament on November 5, 1605.

Guy "Guido" Fawkes was in charge of the explosives, though Richard Catesby was the leader. Nevertheless, since he was the first to be arrested and was "the muscle" behind the operation, his name is the one that has survived history. 

Fawkes began tunnelling under Parliament in the Spring of 1604, and filled it with 36 barrels of gunpowder — enough to blow up Parliament, set fire to most of London, and kill hundreds in an act of terrorism that would lead to a religious war. The Gunpowder Plot was revealed by a whistleblower a week before the opening of Parliament, which led to the search of the cellars.

In the first search on November 4, soldiers found Guy Fawkes in the cellar below the House of Lords, but he claimed he was simply stockpiling wood for the winter. This was reported to James I, who ordered another search in the early hours of November 5. Lo and behold, Guy Fawkes was still there, this time setting fuses!! Fawkes was arrested and tortured. In the meantime, Catesby and the other plotters were also caught. All of them were sentenced to being hung, drawn, and quartered. 

Disaster was averted! Since then the failure of the Gunpowder Plot is widely celebrated in England every November 5th with bonfires, fireworks, "bonfire toffee," and the burning of effigies (traditionally of Catholics like the Pope or Guy Fawkes, but more recently of politicians). This is called Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. 

Whether you want to celebrate the revolutionary and anarchic spirit that led to the plot or its failure, we hope you’ll join us for our very own Guy Fawkes Night. Our version involves fire baskets, sparklers, s’mores …and more! You’re also welcome to bring your own consumables (though for covid reasons, please do not share). Please pay attention to the hygiene concept above.