Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, holloa boys
God save the King!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope
A farthing cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him
Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
~Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century
The English don't fool around when it comes to poetry, do they? They can also hold an awesome grudge! Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament in 1605 and they burn him in effigy to this day!
If I didn't already know about Guy Fawkes day, I would be learning that today. But we have been holding our own Americanized version of bonfire night for several years. Whenever I mention it "Oh, yes, the fifth of November, bonfire night. We'll be burning an effigy. Are you?" the response is usually a blank stare, a slow backing away as if I'm crazy, or, most frequently, "What?"
Why do we celebrate this English tradition? My son is 1/2 Brit and I don't want him to forget his heritage. Well, really we do it because it is fun. We enjoy eating some good food, having a nice bonfire, setting off some fireworks, and burning an effigy. But the Brit thing is where we started.
For the years we have been celebrating, I have never met one American person besides our annual Guy Fawkes group that has ever burned an effigy, and with very few exceptions even knew anything about Guy Fawkes day. So maybe I am teaching something new today, as well as learning something.
What I learned today is that our isolated little group in central Michigan is not the only place Guy Fawkes is celebrated in the US. There is a place in RI that has been celebrating longer than we have and they seem to take it seriously, even reenacting the trial of Guy Fawkes. Strange, they do not burn an effigy. There is even a Center for Fawksian Pursuits. I think we would qualify as a North American Bonfire Society, so maybe they are not the only ones.
Learn more about Guy Fawkes:
So, very cool! Next thing you know, they will be celebrating Thanksgiving in England! (Maybe not.)
Note: This celebration may well catch on. There is a lot more information on line this year than there was 4 years ago.
Something else I learned: According to historians the gunpowder involved in the Gunpowder Plot decayed (left to sitting too long, and separated into its component chemical parts) rendering it harmless. So it would not have blown up Parliament anyway.
good pic you posted. interesting info. wish we could be there. sounds like a good time!
ReplyDeletei have noted the guy fawkes mask on a number of occupy wall street protesters.
i wish you could be here too! that would be so awesome. i'll put your name on a sky lantern so you are with us in thought.
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