What is Guy Fawkes Day?

 For those of you out there who aren't familiar with Guy Fawkes Day and are planning on sending online invitations for Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th, here's a history lesson. Guy Fawkes was one of the Catholic conspirators in 1605 who plotted to blow up the Palace of Westminster on the night when James I (the Scottish Protestant King of England at the time) was to open Parliament.

 The conspirators, involved in what is better known as the Gunpowder Plot, were objecting to the unfair treatment of Catholics in England at the time. Unfortunately (for them, at least), they were apprehended, tortured and killed before they could blow the rulers of England to kingdom come. Today, Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in England and several other countries as an excuse to set off fireworks and burn things (like effigies of Guy Fawkes) because of the explosive fate narrowly escaped by England in the first place.

 Why should you celebrate the holiday with Guy Fawkes Day invitations to a party this November 5th? For one, there's the infamous Guy Fawkes mask that you've undoubtedly seen before, especially if you happen to have seen V for Vendetta:

 An example of the Guy Fawkes Day invites Punchbowl offers:

 Guy Fawkes Day is also a great reason to throw an after Halloween dress-up party and send free Guy Fawkes invitations or to host a simple screening of the film above starring Natalie Portman. Have some old fireworks sitting around from July 4th? Why not have a little fun and set them off in honor of Guy Fawkes and his band of conspirators? Send Guy Fawkes Day invites using Punchbowl and get the party started!

 Maybe you're a diehard Anglophile at heart, or maybe you just love an excuse to set off fireworks. No matter what you do this Guy Fawkes Day, now you know what it's all about and you can even give guests a little history lesson on the Guy Fawkes Day invitations!