Today is one of those days that I should be back in England and I wish it were only a couple of hours drive away. Today is Guy Fawkes Day. It’s one of our nicest holidays, although if you consider the details, it’s actually rather gruesome.
Throughout the country people will be lighting bonfires and fireworks in celebration of the fact that Guy Fawkes was caught before he was able to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. King James I was inside the building at the time as well as members of the aristocracy and nobility. Apart from the great loss of life, which would have taken place, the Houses of Parliament is such a beautiful building; it would have been a terrible loss as well.
Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars underneath Parliament preparing to blow up the building. Today people make Guys out of old clothes stuffed with straw or newspaper, make a head filled with paper and throw it on the bonfire.
One of my favourite things is going to a village display. You all get ready, wellies, gloves, and hats and walk through the village to the local park or farmer’s field. Villagers spend weeks leading up to 5th November building a huge bonfire. A fireworks display will take place against the backdrop of the fire. It’s a great time to catch up with neighbours and friends.
We’ll be celebrating tonight with a shepherd’s pie and light the chiminea on the patio. Not quite the same, we certainly can’t let off any fireworks, the City of Newport Beach wouldn’t be too happy about that. I’m hoping I can find some sparklers for the children.
We’re going to make some small Guys as well to throw on the fire; yes it sounds brutal but remember this celebration started several centuries ago.
Remember, Remember the Fifth of November.
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Another family celebrating Guy Fawkes in America tonight! Ha I agree the effigy seems a bit brutal now – I think we’ll skip that part and stick to marshmallows.
My husband managed to shock our neighbours by trying to explain what Guy Fawkes was all about….burning effigies of Catholics…..they looked relieved when they asked when all this happened and we told them it was the 17th century, as I think they had thought it was more recent!
I know I’m Belgian and all, but the houses of Parliament were destroyed by fire in 1834, so the ones on that picture were built in the 19th century.
If it makes you feel any better, it rained last night and all the fireworks were last weekend.
I have the same feelings on Thanksgiving in the UK.
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