Happy Guy Fawkes Day
Cats: culture|Gather the kids. Get the hot chocolate. Set off the fireworks!
We’re going to burn an effigy tonight.
That’s what they do in England on this day. Effigy-buring is a real family affair and community event.
I was invited to several backyard burnings in my time there and always marveled at the fun-loving approach they take to effigy burning, you know, pretending to burn a man alive. Whoopeee!
If you recall British history, Guy Fawkes (1570 – 1606) tried to blow up Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. He was trying to replace Protestant Rule by killing the ruling classes and the King James I.
He was caught and tortured by the authorities and in the end climbed the gallows and jumped. He wasn’t actually burned.
But for hundreds of years to come, the people of England would burn him on “Bonfire night.”
November 5th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Do you have your effigy all picked out? I imagine the lineups at Effigies R Us are insane at this time of year.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Apparently, they’re burning an effigy of this Katie something or other chick this year. I don’t know who she is, but she’s like our Britney it seems.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I love the story of Guy Fawkes because they caught him at the last minute. He was trying to get the fuse lit when they found the tunnel he had dug. If Bic had made disposable lighters then, this might be a completely different holiday!
Doc
November 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Do you have any bones for that there bonfire?
November 6th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
How’d the burning go? Was the wind blowing westward? Smoky effigy perchance?