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Describe a tradition in your country

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Describe a tradition in your country

You should say: 

  • what it is
  • who takes part in it 
  • what activities there are 
  • explain how you feel about it

Sample Answer

I’m going to talk about Guy Fawkes Night an event which is held in parts of the UK, mainly in England, on November 5th each year. 

It’s also known as “Bonfire Night” because it involves making and lighting a large bonfire and a firework display. It’s an annual tradition which dates back to the early 17th century, to the year 1605 in fact, when a group of conspirators including a man called Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on the day the king of the time, James I was going to be there along with all the Members of the Houses of Commons and Lords to mark the official opening of parliamentary sessions that year, a tradition that is still observed to this day. The plot failed and Guy Fawkes among others was arrested and later executed. So, originally it was a kind of festival to celebrate the fact that the king had survived and historians also point out that it played an important role for many years in promoting anti-Catholic sentiments among people. Fawkes and his friends were Catholics who were demanding their rights to the Protestant authorities, including the king. 

Well, I guess these days, those sentiments are not so strong and when we were kids, we didn’t give that side of things too much thought either, to be honest.  What we did in the days leading up to the 5th was to collect wood to make the bonfire along with old rags or whatever to make an effigy a “Guy” we called it, to put on top of the bonfire, as well as ask for money to buy fireworks. It was a very popular event, especially in working-class areas such as where I lived. Of course, some families had their little private firework display in their gardens with adults in charge of everything but for many of us, it was a question of gathering in some public space and just having fun though some adults did come along to join in the festivities.  I seem to remember that there was always a lot of local rivalry between neighbouring districts to see who had made the biggest bonfire or let off the most fireworks. 

I think in recent years, the tradition has died out a bit. For one thing, Guy Fawkes himself means less and less to kids today though I’ve read that some people just make an effigy of an unpopular figure, a politician for example, and burn that! Also, of course, the festival falls on a date so close to the annual tradition of Halloween which has its own very rich cultural heritage and of course, gives kids and adults the chance to dress up in all kinds of weird costumes. It appeals to all ages, young and not so young whereas I began to lose interest in Bonfire Night by my early teens. 

Perhaps, all that’s left of Guy Fawkes these days is the “Guy Fawkes face mask” made famous in the film V for Vendetta which we see people wearing in protests all over the world. It’s nice to think that Guy Fawkes lives on in our hearts as a symbol of protest and resistance against greed and corruption.  

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