How do you explain bonfire night to a 4 year old?

[Almostateeagersmum2023]

DS just asked me ‘why are they here?’

Remember Remember the fifth of November...

There is a rhyme that explains it all.

"A very long time ago, a man called Guy Fawkes tried to kill the king but he got caught before he did it, so we celebrate that the king didn't die"

That's plenty for a four year old to deal with; you don't need to go into all the grisly details or political / religious turmoil going on at the time.

With the truth?

Hundreds of years ago, a group of bad guys tried to blow up the king but failed. We traditionally celebrate the fact they didn’t succeed by letting off fireworks in celebration. Some people also burn a pretend bad man on a bonfire, though of course no one would do that in real life.

Why are what here? Bonfires?

But generally, you can explain it like a children's story. A long time ago there was a King that some people thought was great and others thought was terrible. Some people who thought he was terrible planned to blow up the King with a big bomb, but they were caught and stopped. Ever since then we remind ourselves of the story by having fireworks and a bonfire. One of the people caught was called Guy Fawkes and sometimes people put a model of him on the bonfire.

There’s a programme on Channel 5 about it at the minute ……

Just the truth, assuming you no what it is? They teach it in primary schools.

Bit grim for a 4 year old isn’t it? Just a reminder to us commoners not to question authority.

I'm not sure a 4 year old will read that much into it!

Besides, commoners can definately question authority in this country. Just maybe not try to kill anyone in doing so...

I don’t think your 4 year old will think that deeply into it to be honest. No need ro
project into the kid, just answer the question and move on. If he’s not already in school hel learn about it next year anyway.

“Because it’s fun to see fireworks” if you don’t want to go into details

Then say that the tradition started a long time ago but now we just enjoy the fireworks for their own sake.

Not as grim as Grimm ...

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b4f79c58-7a49-11ee-86e8-a42a2179af55?shareToken=be5b508e75152aa75689cb6ba83bc5b5

(And blowing up Parliament (not just the King) is a bit more than 'questioning authority' ffs)

Yeah that’s the best answer 😂

I saw that, and bloody hell the male presenter is very enthusiastic about it (and bringing the plotters to justice) to say the least!

There's a world of difference between "questioning authority" and murdering the King and the entire Parliament because you want your Religion to be back in power............🙄

Way to show your ignorance!

Rather depends if you are a Catholic or not.

Or a celebration that terror, violence and intimidation did not succeed.

So many constructions you could put on it!

My 4 year old loved hearing all about Guy Fawkes, yours might too.

I'd go more for "there's a way to challenge authority, without trying to blow anyone up"

Or not to commit terrorist acts?

I don't know what this says about my upbringing but I genuinely thought we celebrated guy Fawkes trying to kill the king, not the fact that he failed.

Do you have people calling for a penny for the guy? That's fallen out of favour here.

Haha think we might not be too many miles apart - literally

Kid version of the proper version, for sure. Always did this with DS when he asked about stuff like this and he’s developing decent general knowledge as a result, especially re history. And btw, Guy Fawkes et al we’re definitely not commoners!

I don't know what this says about my upbringing but I genuinely thought we celebrated guy Fawkes trying to kill the king, not the fact that he failed

Be a bit strange to celebrate Guy Fawkes by burning his effigy on a large fire.

I thought it was because he got caught up in the fire 😁

No but it’s us commoners that ‘celebrate’ it.