Local charity Light into Europe is holding a fund raising Bonfire Night party this evening (November 2 ) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Barbeque and drinks will be laid on by the organizers and, in keeping with the British tradition, a fireworks display is also promised. Money raised by the event will support Light into Europe’s projects in Romania, which include providing educational support for children with sight and hearing difficulties, as well as developing the first guide dogs for the blind service in the country.
Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is a British tradition that marks an unsuccessful Catholic plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I in 1605. The Gunpowder Plot, as it is known, involved filling the cellars beneath the Houses of Parliament with barrels of gunpowder, but the plot was betrayed when one of the conspirators tipped off a relative, telling him to avoid attending Parliament on November 5. This aroused suspicion and before the King opened Parliament, the cellars were checked and conspirator Guy Fawkes was found, ready to ignite the barrels of black powder. The conspirators met grisly ends, those that survived arrest were hanged, drawn and quartered. November 5 was made into a holiday to celebrate the King’s survival and the tradition of Bonfire night was thus started.
Nowadays Bonfire Night is typically celebrated with fireworks and a big fire, on which an effigy of Guy Fawkes, known as ‘the Guy’ is burned. In the past, children would wheel ‘the Guy’ around before Bonfire Night and raise money by asking for “A penny for the Guy.” Treacle Toffee is also traditionally made and eaten for Bonfire Night; it’s a type of hard sweet made from brown sugar and treacle or molasses.
Tickets in advance cost RON 75 and can be bought by contacting : bonfirenight@lightintoeurope.org. Reservations +4021 224 37 15. Tickets on the door cost RON 100. The Bonfire Night Party kicks off at 19:00, November 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com
photo source: Light into Europe on Facebook