Remember, remember the 5th of November may be one of the best known English rhymes and it has stood the test of time, remaining intact for over three centuries. The rhyme relates, of course, to Guy Fawkes who was the mastermind behind the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 where Fawkes and his companions plotted to kill King James the First. His murderous plan famously failed and to celebrate his demise it became traditional to burn an effigy on Bonfire Night — hence you may see a stuffed ‘Guy’ on a bonfire on the 5th November. Over time, fireworks have also been introduced to represent the explosives which would have blown up The Houses of Parliament.
While fireworks can be marvellous to watch for us, they’re often nightmarish for our companion animals. Excruciatingly loud bangs, whizzes and fizzles are accompanied by bright flashes of light which illuminate the sky with unnatural colours and light; if you, as a child, were ever scared by thunder and lightning, you may be able to begin to understand how animals feel on fireworks night. The problem is that animals don’t know why all this noise is being created; is it a threat? It seems to be coming from every direction and with no discernible source, it is impossible to know which way to run.