Guy Fawkes led the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, which aimed to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. Fawkes and his group hid 36 barrels of gunpowder underneath the Houses of Parliament but were caught before they could light the fuse when an anonymous warning letter was sent. Fireworks were first invented in China around 2000 years ago and have since been used for celebrations and religious ceremonies, though they require safety precautions like keeping a distance when watching and never playing with or going near lit fireworks.