Guy Fawkes was caught guarding a bunch of gunpowder in the croft below the English Parliament on Nov 5, 1605.
The aim was to blow up Parliament, assassinate the King and install a monarch friendly to the Roman Catholic Church.
Needless to say it did not work ... he was tortured and eventually all the conspirators were caught and dealt with ... severely.
Since then the British have observed the date with a ceremonial bonfire and burning of the Guy in effigy. Fireworks are thrown in as well. You could think of it as the British Halloween complete with Guy Fawkes as the scary boogeyman.
Check it out on Wikipedia
Gregg's heritage is British and he has friends and family that decided they would celebrate Guy Fawkes night this year in Grand Forks. I got invited and of course I took pictures. The fireworks pics I took while running away from the firework I just lit so bear with me on those.
There is a poem that goes with this:
Remember, remember
the 5th of November
Gunpowder, Treason
and Plot
I see no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot