MGSpiller, released under Creative Commons Attribution Shared Alike
Today is Fireworks Night/Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night in the UK. For the unaware, Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated after Brits uncovered Guy Fawkes who was trying to blow up the Houses of Parlament in what would be like 9/11 times a thousand. The method behind Guy Fawkes madness was to install a Roman Catholic king as, UK in the early 1600′s was a Protestant country. He was executed, and we celebrate the anniversary with fireworks and bonfires.
Despite being a dog lover, I actually really enjoy bonfire night, it’s a good time to get out of the house and – like all good holidays – I’m reminded of the food. The baked potatoes and toffee apples mainly, but it is a very divided holiday in the UK, with some people loving it, and some people hating it.
Nevertheless, here are 3 facts about the holiday:
- The use of bonfires is peculiar, as some people think that he was burnt alive. He wasn’t. He was hung, drawn (innards removed) and quartered (tied to four horses and torn into quarters). Well, he should’ve been, but he jumped before he was hung, thus breaking his neck.
- Catherine Wheels, a popular firework from the holiday, are named after the torture device that Catherine of Alexandria died on.
- The title refers to a poem, that most people only know the first two lines. Here’s the rest of it
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- Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
- The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
- I know of no reason
- Why Gunpowder Treason
- Should ever be forgot.
- Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
- To blow up King and Parliament.
- 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!
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I may get a baked potato and head to watch the fireworks in Eirias Park tomorrow, but it depends on how I feel after work to be honest – I may just sit outside the house and watch the fireworks. What are you doing?
Comments: 7 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
Argh… I don’t hate fireworks, but I certainly object to buying fireworks in order to set fire to my money and watch it explode. There’s a few displays on round this way, but I doubt I’ll go to any of them. I’m too much of a grump – bah humbug!
I just love the movie ‘V for Vendetta’ where pretty much the same thing happens, but it’s a train full of explosives. That has to be one of my favourite movies of all time.
I LOVE fireworks. I had my Guy Fawkes on Friday on Clapham Common. Was ace. I’m not keen on the squeaky ones though.
Hanged, drawn and quartered…
Pictures are hung on a wall, but men are only hung when they are from Manchester and built that way.
Haha! That’s debatable, according numerous ex girlfriends
Hmm, OK so you’re an honorary Mancunian…
Apropos nothing whatsoever, a mate of mine is one of the finalists in the Best UK Weblog 2007 Awards. His name is Neil Clark and he needs your vote. Thanks to a lot of hard work he is now in 4th place
I am out of the house and so do not have the link, but you can get it from the top posting at The Exile.
Vote Early! Vote Often! Vote Neil Clark!
The only objection I have against Bonfire Night – or rather, November – is people’s need to buy a ridiculous amount of fireworks and set them off EVERY BLOODY NIGHT for 3-4 weeks. Seriously, it’s just not necessary.