Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November






                        Wishing our friends across the pond a 
                                  Happy Guy Fawkes Day!



For those of us stateside, here is a little bit about why this day is commemorated.  Guy Fawkes was a member of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.  The plan was to assassinate King James 1 and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne.  Fawkes was in charge of the gunpowder the
group was stockpiling under the House of Lords.  A tip led authorities to search under Westminster Palace, foil the plot, and arrest Guy Fawkes.

To celebrate the fact that King James 1 had survived this attempt on his life, people built bonfires.  Fawkes,
who was to be hanged, jumped from the scaffold and died in the fall.  On November 5th in Britain, his effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by fireworks. 




The story was first told to me by a beloved Shakespeare professor.  He held a huge party each year out on his property.  The undergrads were given the task of creating the effigy of the doomed Fawkes.  Grad students planned the feast.  We did not do fireworks, but Guy Fawkes was 10 ft. tall and the bonfire was huge!  That was fine with me, because it was very cold.  We used that bonfire to cook sausages, too, and that was yummy.




                                             Have Fun!
 

10 comments:

  1. Interesting!! I had always heard that "remember remember " part but never knew what it was about. Thanks Ella!!

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  2. Thank you for the good wishes. We're hoping to get to a fireworks display this evening but the weather isn't looking good.
    Although I grew up with Guy Fawkes night these days it is referred to Bonfire night, so not to offend catholics, however his effigy is still burnt.
    have a great day too!

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  3. Hi Ella, thank you. We celebrate Guy Fawkes here in NZ and I've just come back in from letting off fireworks with the neighbours. This Saturday we have an official city fireworks display.

    Hugs
    Roz

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  4. I do get my education on many subject here in blogland! Thanks

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  5. Thanks for the history lesson....love that I learn all sorts of new information from my blogging friends..
    hugs abby

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  6. Hi Ella, thanks a lot. It's raining here though so.... I am cat sitting for my son and dil and they are more worried about the cat being upset by the noise so I am not allowed to celebrate, just mollycoddle the cat :( lol
    love Jan,xx

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  7. Thanks Ella! I didn't know all the history! Hmmmmm... we teachers never stop teaching! Love it!

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  8. Thanks, Ella. We're going to a Bonfire party on Saturday night, complete with fireworks and a hot supper. Just hoping the weather will be dry as it's done its fair share of raining over here lately.

    Hugs
    Ami

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  9. thanks Ella for the history on Guy Fawkes night. Fireworks are mostly banned in Australia so we don't celebrate this anymore. I remember as a child having my fireworks though and getting together with the neighbours to set them off. My naughty Bear told me he and his mates used to put them in lemonade bottles. Its a wonder they survived.
    Hugs Lindy

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  10. Thanks for the history lesson. If I knew about Guy Fawkes, I'd forgotten,
    I had a wonderful history professor in college too.

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