Thread: Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

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Happy Guy Fawkes Day.

After tonights fireworks and bonfires and parades, tomorrow marks the first day of the Christmas season in England. They'll be turning on the Christmas lights in the old city tomorrow night.

You think we start too early here? Sheesh.

Oh, well. In the meantime;

"Remember, Remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot.
I Know of No Reason The Gunpowder Treason
Should Ever Be Forgot..."

Well Spats me old pal, it would appear as though it is starting to get "forgot" after all these years.
A few years ago, my neighbourhood on November 5th would be somewhat reminiscent of Baghdad on a bad night...tonight it is very, very quiet. a few flashes and bangs earlier in the evening, but nothing much.

The reasons behind the decline in the celebration of Guy Fawkes night are many and varied, from health and safety regulations to the decline in the teaching of English history in schools.
Ask any school child now the significance of the year 1605 and they will look at you with a blank expression...
Children no longer stand on street corners with stuffed dummies in carts calling "penny for the Guy"..It's many years since I've seen this.

However...It's now official that Halloween has overtaken Guy Fawkes night in terms of retail sales here in the UK. Halloween sales have increased twenty-fold over the last decade.
See the article here: Fancy dress sales jump as Halloween overtakes Guy Fawkes Night - Telegraph

Whilst it's sad to see traditional cultural events dying a death, every cloud has a silver lining as they say.

A very happy and safe Bonfire night to all.

Here here! Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Thanks, Spats, for posting this.

Not doing anything. once again, my work regime ruins all fun! Off to bed for me now....hopefully there will be a few sets of pretty fireworks for me to see at the weekend.

We're going to a Guy Fawkes celebration tomorrow night. Our friends do it every year. Big bonfire and burning of the "Guy", fireworks, a lot of food and BEER of course!
My wife was warned today that "Guy" will apparently look like Michael Jackson this year.
That's got me curious..............

"Right, Fawkes! We know you weren't alone in your plans to blow the House to hell, what with the King and all, so who else done it, eh?"

"Umm, she said that her name was Billie Jean..."

Originally Posted by Spats

"Right, Fawkes! We know you weren't alone in your plans to blow the House to hell, what with the King and all, so who else done it, eh?"

"Umm, she said that her name was Billie Jean..."

LMAO !!

He did kind of look like M.J. tonight, being his mask was white and missing it's nose!
Oh, and one other similarity---he caught on FIRE!!!

What about Thanksgiving. Why does everybody forget Thanksgiving?

Straight from halloween to christmas. Ugh. Lol.

Originally Posted by The Red Hallows

What about Thanksgiving. Why does everybody forget Thanksgiving?

Straight from halloween to christmas. Ugh. Lol.

Red Fellows, Guy Fawkes is a predominantly British holiday, with a few Australian and Eastern Canadian celebrants.

The November Thanksgiving is a decidedly American holiday.

So the British don't forget Thanksgiving, they just don't celebrate it. The Canadians do, but theirs is in October, I believe.

Originally Posted by Spats

Red Fellows, Guy Fawkes is a predominantly British holiday, with a few Australian and Eastern Canadian celebrants.

The November Thanksgiving is a decidedly American holiday.

So the British don't forget Thanksgiving, they just don't celebrate it. The Canadians do, but theirs is in October, I believe.

It's not that we don't celebrate it...

It's just that we don't need to practice for Christmas....