Remember the fifth of November, A night that we always remember. The air is cold, the fires are bright, And rockets shoot sparks through the night.

Long, long ago, in sixteen oh five, Some men hid gunpowder under the floor, Beneath the great building where kings arrive, With a plan to blow up the Parliament door.

Their friend was Guy Fawkes, who waited below, With matches and lantern, quite ready to go. But soldiers came running and took him away, And nobody blew up the king on that day.

So now, every year, when November comes round, We gather outside on the cold, frosty ground. We build a big bonfire and light it with care, And wave our bright sparklers around in the air.

Before the fire starts, we make an effigy, An old dummy man made of cloth and old jelly. We call him “the Guy” and we put him on top, Until all of the burning has finally stopped.

Children sometimes carry the Guy down the street, They ask passers-by for a copper or treat. Some say “Penny for the Guy” in their hand, While parents stand nearby to watch o’er the land.

We wear warm coats now as the autumn winds blow, Our breath makes white clouds in the cold evening glow. The smell of the smoke floats across from the park, And people laugh loudly when rockets fly dark.

There are thundering bangs that sound like loud drums, As fireworks explode in amazing big blooms. In colours of red, green and gold, purple too, They paint the black sky with their brilliant display.

We eat sticky toffee and hot soup and bread, Then look up together at stars overhead. The Catherine wheels spin in a spinning bright ring, While everyone claps at the wonderful thing.

Hot drinks warm our hands – tea, coffee or cocoa, In mugs that keep warmth for us all in the cold. We talk with our friends and we share happy tales, About past Bonfire Nights and the stories they tell.

Sometimes there are dangers we all need to fear, When people get too close to the fire each year. So parents stay near and keep children quite tight, Watching them carefully all through the night.

Be careful with sparklers that burn very hot, Hold them away from your face and your hair spot. Put them in a bucket of water afterwards, To stop any burns and prevent little swords.

So stand well back and keep safe from the flames, And learn all the dates and the famous old names. Remember the fifth of November, and then We will meet by the bonfire again and again.

It is fun for the whole family to come, Where music plays softly on portable drum. The neighbours all know each other quite well, Because Bonfire Night brings us together to dwell.

Historic traditions from centuries past, Are kept in the memories of all who attend. From generations before us they came, And we carry on their tradition with fame.

So remember the plot and remember the gun, Remember the story that started it all, one. The fifth of November stays in our mind, A British tradition of a special kind.

And now when you hear that loud crack in the sky, You will know what this celebration means high. Guy Fawkes Night lives on in our hearts and our homes, Through fireworks and bonfires wherever we roam.

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Vocabulary Notes

Bonfire (noun)
Meaning: A large outdoor fire, typically built for celebration or to dispose of waste
Example: “We build a big bonfire and light it with care”
Similar words: campfire, blaze, firepit, pyre
Usage note: Usually refers to intentionally lit fires for events; a bonfire is generally larger than a campfire

Fireworks (noun)
Meaning: Coloured explosive lights in the sky, used for celebrations
Example: “They paint the black sky with their brilliant display”
Similar words: fireworks display, pyrotechnics, sparks
Usage note: Always plural in British English when referring to the show; singular “a firework” means one explosive device

Sparklers (noun)
Meaning: Hand-held fireworks that emit sparkling light without loud explosions
Example: “And wave our bright sparklers around in the air”
Similar words: candles, flares, glow sticks
Usage note: Safer for children than other fireworks, but still get very hot – keep away from face and hair

Effigy (noun)
Meaning: A model or dummy of a person, often burned on Bonfire Night
Example: “Before the fire starts, we make an effigy”
Similar words: dummy, figure, mannequin, likeness
Usage note: On Guy Fawkes Night, children traditionally call it “the Guy”; historically effigies represented people in protest

Tradition (noun)
Meaning: A custom or belief passed down through generations
Example: “Historic traditions from centuries past, are kept in the memories of all who attend”
Similar words: custom, practice, ritual, ceremony
Usage note: Used for cultural practices; “family tradition” means something your family does regularly across years

Story and image generated by Lumo AI.

Video generated by MoneyPrinterTurbo AI.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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