divendres, 5 de novembre del 2010

Bonfire Night

On November 5th we celebrate Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night) in England. This celebration commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot ...

In 1605 a group of Catholics tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant King of England, King James I, with the aim of replacing him with a Catholic head of state.

However, the plot was discovered, and the barrels of gunpowder. The plotters were arrested and executed. The most famous member of the group was their leader, Guy Fawkes.




Fortunately this celebration has lost its anti-catholic connotations over the centuries and is now a great night out to blow away the winter blues. People build huge bonfires in gardens and public parks. Children traditionally make an effigy of Guy Fawkes (called "a guy") and used to drag him around the streets asking for money from passer-bys ("a penny for the guy"). When the bonfire is lit, everyone gathers around and the "guy" is thrown on to be burnt. Firework displays are very common. And, as with all great festivities, plenty of treats are consumed - jacket potatoes, toffee apples, pie and peas ...


3 comentaris:

  1. On one occasion we built a Guy and ate a typical Guy Fawkes' tea in the school. It was delicious and funny.
    Pity that both festivities, Bonfire Night an Halloween are so close in time. we haven't got enough time to celebrate them the way we'd like to.
    Thanks to remind us about it.

    ResponElimina
  2. Thanks for the comments.
    I have not seen the film, but know the "hero" bases his "freedom" ideas on Guy Fawkes!

    With the typical food, I forgot to mention parkin !! Delicious!

    By the way, per cert, el eurodiputat i historiador Oriol Junqueras també en parla ...
    http://in.directe.cat/oriol-junqueras/blog/2622/la-conspiracio-de-la-polvora

    ResponElimina