從未像今天這樣虔誠地仰著脖子25分鐘看煙花，從未像今天這樣看煙花看到熱淚盈眶，也從未像今天這樣覺得煙花竟有這麼美，雖然短暫，但華麗絢爛。如果這是在中國，我肯定不會傻兮兮地站在寒風中25分鐘看“昙花一現”的煙花，但是在異國他鄉，看到任何和中國相關的東西我都會覺得很自豪。前幾天就有人陸陸續續地開始放煙花了，我並沒有把它當回事，無非就是最普通的煙花嘛，無論氣勢還是花樣都不及我在中國看到的，純屬“小兒科”。再說了退回去幾千年，這還不是我們老祖宗發明的？零零星星的煙花除了在寒冷中增添一些節日氣氛外並沒能激起我內心的共鳴。但是，今天感覺很不一樣！看著身邊拖兒帶女的英國人，他們顯得異常興奮，哼著小調，和著音樂扭動著或胖或瘦的身軀，手裡拿著各式熒光棒，揮舞著……好讓人羨慕，阖家團圓，其樂融融。
為什麼今晚要放這麼多美麗的煙花呢？因為今晚是Bonfire Night（Guy Fawkes Night）—— 英國的傳統節日“篝火之夜”。每年的11 月 5 號晚上，英國各地都會點上篝火，火上燒著填充著草和紙、穿著舊衣服的假人，燃放煙花，吃著太妃糖、姜汁面包、烤土豆，在室外度過一個狂歡之夜，借以慶祝 1605 年炸毀議會建築陰謀的失敗。
這一節日的由來，要追溯到400多年前的1605年。當時的國王詹姆新一世（James I）是新教徒，統治著整個英格蘭和蘇格蘭。由於宗教對立的因素，之前居於統治地位的天主教徒們受到了殘酷的迫害；此外，詹姆斯蘇格蘭人的身份，也引起了一些英格蘭人的仇視。一批天主教徒便秘密策劃殺害詹姆新一世，他們將36桶火藥秘密地運到倫敦議會大廈之下，計劃於11月5日在國王召集會議時引爆炸藥。不幸的是同謀者之一不經意間的一封信導致整個計劃的洩露。11月4日，國王的手下查到了火藥所在，抓獲了看守火藥的蓋伊福克斯（Guy Fawkes）。福克斯後來經過審判後被處死，其同黨均在圍捕中被殺死。此後，每年的11月5日期間，人們便點起篝火，燃燒代表福克斯的假人，以紀念這一事件。
轉一篇BBC關於Bonfire Night的文章:
“Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot!”
That rhyme is repeated by children in Britain to remember why, every year on 5th November, many British people celebrate Bonfire Night.
They might celebrate at home in their gardens, by building a bonfire and letting off Fireworks. Young children like to light sparklers and wave them.
There are also many organised firework displays in public areas – a huge bonfire is built and there will usually be a long firework display with big, colourful Fireworks like bangers, rockets, and Catherine wheels.
This festival falls in Autumn when the weather is quite cold, so people watch the Fireworks and eat hot food to keep them warm – hot dogs or jacket potatoes for example and you might drink mulled wine or hot chocolate.
So why do British people do this? Well, on November 5th, 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes trIEd to blow up the British Houses of Parliament with gunpowder.
He wanted to get revenge on the King at that time for his lack oftolerance towards Catholics. However, the plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was caught and executed for treason.
It was then that the tradition of Bonfire Night began. People started to have bonfires to celebrate the safety of the King because he wasn’t blown up. November 5th is also known as Guy Fawkes’ Night.
People would burn effigIEs of Guy Fawkes and even today, people make dummIEs of Guy Fawkes to burn, which are called ‘the Guy’. Children still wheel their dummIEs through the streets, knocking on people’s doors and asking for ‘a penny for the Guy’ to earn some money.
The origins of the festival have much less importance today but it remains a fun and exciting night for children and adults alike. But if you’re lighting Fireworks, then be careful!