Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Guy Fawkes Day

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

HISTORY: Guy Fawkes, as you may or may not know, was a member of a Roman Catholic revolutionary group who planned to carryout the "gunpowder plot"- in 1605. They attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament which would displace the Protestant King James 1. Of course, they did not succeed.

Guy stood trial in Westminster Hall and him and his colleagues were found guilty and were to be hung, drawn and quartered (ouch!). Guy managed to avoid the worst of his execution by jumping from the scaffold where he was to be hanged, breaking his neck before he could be drawn and quartered. It is said his head was put on a spike as a warning for others who would dare plot against the King.

Every year on "Bonfire Night", the English have fireworks and bonfires to remember (or celebrate, depending on how you look at it) that fateful night over 400 years ago. Guy Fawkes was ranked 30th in the 2002 "100 Greatest Britons".

FESTIVITIES: We went to a local bonfire in Beck Row, right across the street from our friends, the Smith's, house - parking was free there! (muah ha ha) The festivities only lasted an hour, which was good because the kids were either too cold or too hot. We did have a choice spot right near the bonfire and a perfect view of the fireworks. There was a ton of people there and hot chocolate and goodies were sold - the queue was SO LONG that we said "so long" to that and I made Austin some hot chocolate when we arrived home - I had to soothe the wild hot chocolate beast inside him! A fun time and the last time we will be celebrating Bonfire Night in England!