Carl Tyler's Blog

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Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

This is a poem that we all learn at an early age in England. This evening (November 4th) back in 1605 a number of "evil doers" attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, although the "evil doers" were headed up by Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes was the poor guy discovered sitting on 36 barrels of gunpowder in cellar of the Houses of Parliament, being the efficient country that we are, we skipped the whole step of sending him to Guantanamo and tortured and executed him on the next day, which was the 5th of November.

To celebrate the fact that the King had been saved, Londoners desperate for any excuse for some hot dogs, toffee apples and fireworks, started lighting celebratory fires. This tradition continues today, with regular warnings that all fireworks should be kept in sealed tins, and to keep your pets indoors.

It is also tradition for kids to make effigies of Guy Fawkes, and to go around with it in a stolen shopping trolley, asking old grannies if they'll "Give a penny for the Guy" having raised a bout one quid fifty, you then take your much treasured effigy and burn it on the biggest bonfire you can find. Often on bonfire night the effigies of unpopular characters are also burnt, I'll let you work out for yourselves who was very populat last year.

The photo on the left, is an authentic picture taken by a local reporter for "Ye Olde News" circa 1605, which captured Guy Fawkes in the act.

I tell you this today, so that you will still have time to make your very own Guy Fawkes to burn on a bonfire.

Oh and in case you thought the world has changed much in the last 400 years, the reason behind the gunpowder plot was, as always, religion.