Happy Bonfire Night
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.
The British are celebrating the anniversary of the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot.
A group of English Catholic conspirators including an explosives expert, Guy Fawkes, stashed 36 barrels of gunpowder in the basement of the Parliament building with the intent of blowing up the members of Parliament and King James I during the official opening of Parliament on November 5th, 1605.
Bonfire Night is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and occasionally the Pope, are traditionally thrown on the fires. Effigies of modern politicians have made their appearances at the celebration.
As Robert Cecil was involved, I doubt anyone will ever know the truth about the plot.
Over here some people have dedicated this day to dumping the ‘too big to fail’ banks with the Move Your Money Project.
3 comments
Not sure if it is my catholic upbringing but I hate Guy Fawkes Night. Actually not as we always had fireworks as a kid but never a guy on a bonfire.
There is something particularly offensive in my mind to the buning of anyone in effigy. In Lewes they still burn the pope in effigy (admittedly the pope on the throne at the time of the plot) but among bonfire societies. particularly in Sussex, others are burned in effigy. Some years back an Traveller caravan was burned symbolically.
There is no way I would participate in anything as base and atavistic as that.
Some musical group named Blake’n’Blue recorded a song (?) called “Burning in F and G” …
Burning things is not a joyful thing for those of us brought up in the South. It is something the KKK seems to enjoy. OTOH it is a ‘tradition’, and you aren’t allowed to argue with traditions, or question them.
I am not a fan of explosions for any reason. I do not have cheerful memories of explosions, and avoid them whenever possible.