In 1605, Guy Fawkes (the one who’s name became attached to the event) and others were found with gunpowder in the House of Parliament and seemed to be trying to blow up King and Parliament. This lead to
The Observance of 5th November Act 1605 (3 Ja. I, c. 1,) also known as the “Thanksgiving Act“
The Bill was drafted and introduced on 23 January 1605/06 by Edward Montagu. It called for a public, annual thanksgiving for the failure of the Plot.
That ‘s right – November 5th was a Thanksgiving Day in 1606, which is years before 1621…. 1621 isn’t quite as First as it sometimes thinks it is. Just sayin’.
Guy Fawkes got a whole new life in the movies.
Since bonfires are the constant celebration of this day of Thanksgiving
the foods most associated with this holiday are bonfire toffee and jacket potatoes.
Jacket potatoes?
But really, Jacket Potatoes are baked (the bonfire connection) with the skins still on….
The link to the story and the recipes are here: Jacket potatoes
Don’t forget!
I always take an interest in what people eat at Bonfire Night. They like their sausages too and as you mention, Treacle Toffee. Though American-style Halloween is making its season ingress, I’m amazed how Bonfire Night, with its pyromania and burning of the Guy, is the night that feels Pagan.