Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November
5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the
discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of
Parliament in London
in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks.
Many people
light bonfires and set off fireworks. As it is the end of autumn, it is the
ideal opportunity to burn garden rubbish. Some light small bonfires in their
own gardens, while other light larger ones in a communal space. In some towns
and cities, the municipality organizes a bonfire and professional firework
display in a park. These tend to be very popular. Due to its proximity to
Halloween, many people organize a combined party for Guy Fawkes Night and Halloween.
These parties often include elements from both festivals, such as a bonfire and
dressing up in spooky outfits. Popular foods include toffee apples, bonfire
toffee and potatoes baked in the ashes of the fire. Guy Fawkes, a Catholic, was
arrested, tortured and executed for his part in the plot to blow up the Houses
of Parliament. Hence many Catholics are more restrained in their celebration of
this day. In addition, many injuries and even deaths occur as a result of
fireworks being used incorrectly. For this reason, many safety campaigners call
for the sale of fireworks to the public to be restricted even more than at
present and for more professional displays to be organized.
Guy Fawkes appears in the 2002 List of "100 Great Britons" (sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public), alongside such other greats as David Beckham, Aleister Crowley, Winston Churchill and Johnny Rotten. Cynical Britons are sometimes known to comment that Guy Fawkes was the only man to go to Parliament with honourable intentions.
ReplyDeleteIn an interesting example of semantic progression, Guy Fawkes has become immortalised by one of the most common words in the English language, particularly in American spoken English. The burning on 5 November of an effigy of Fawkes, known as a "guy," led to the use of the word "guy" as a term for "a person of grotesque appearance" and then to a general reference for a man, as in "some guy called for you." In the 20th century, under the influence of American popular culture, "guy" gradually replaced "fellow," "bloke," "chap" and other such words there and the practice is spreading throughout the English-speaking world.
The story of Guy Fawkes was a major inspiration for Alan Moore's post-nuclear war tale of a fascist Britain, V for Vendetta. The main character in that story is modeled on Fawkes.
There's a theory that Guy Fawkes Night can be forgotten. It can be dampened by Halloween, as nowadays the traditional Penny for the Guy seems to have largely fallen out of favour a while ago; most kids don't know the history of it (Guy Fawkes). And I think there are signs to believe it, as we live in a constant changing world: something comes, something became forgotten. On the assumption of this, I think that some holidays (even they’re traditional) may disappear, but gradually. The older generation will remember and maybe celebrate the Guy Fawkes Day, while a new generation won’t understand it.
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