Bonfire Night
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
~
Several years back a friend of mine over in the UK told me about this celebration called Bonfire Night.
This celebration started 403 years ago on November 5th in 1605 after a failed attempt to kill King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament. The hope was that in blowing up the Houses of Parliament they would also kill members of Parliament. The plotters were 13 English Catholics who felt repressed and persecuted by the current and previous rulers. This attempt was dubbed the ‘Powder Treason’ or ‘Gunpowder Plot’.
Guy Fawkes was one of the 13 conspirators. Guy Fawkes was caught under the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Within a few days his fellow allies were either dead or captured. Guy Fawkes was imprisoned, tortured and then gruesomely executed. (Publically hung, drawn and quartered.)
That same night, after many Londoners heard the news that their King had been saved, they lit bonfires in celebration. Over the years this celebration has grown larger and more elaborate. Today the event is commemorated every year on Nov. 5th. You’ll see fireworks and burning figurines or dummies of Guy Fawkes and sometimes other contemporary politicians tossed on the bonfires in the UK.
If you’re curious, you can find more detailed information at:
The Gunpowder Plot: Parliament & Treason 1605
Picture of Guy Fawkes capture, Unknown author, public domain.
I personally think it’s ironic that this political celebration in the UK follows our election day and want to suggest that us Americans get in on this. Anything for a party – huh? But seriously, why not? Let’s all celebrate with our neighbors across the pond and have a bonfire. We have plenty to celebrate. I’m thrilled that all the politically charged ads and discussions will come to an end for a while and I can eat my dinner, watch TV, listen to the radio or have a conversation in peace. I’m tired of all the junk political mail being jammed into my mail box and the politicians who knock on my door and want to talk for “just a few minutes” while my dinner gets cold or over cooks on the stove. Lets all have a bonfire to burn all those political mailings we’ve received over the past few months. Lets celebrate the fact that yet another election year has passed! Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that I live in a country where I have a voice and a vote. However, I hate all the campaigning and propaganda that gets shoved down my throat in the process.
