Guy Fawkes Night

Most Britons are aware of the holiday celebrated every year on the 5th day of November: Guy Fawkes Night. It is a special holiday commemorating the failed attempted by Catholic Fawkes to blow up Parliament and the Protestant King at a time when they would be conveniently gathered in the same halls: the State Opening.
All was well for the Gunpowder Plotters until knowledge of the treason leaked from their meeting place, and was made known to King James. While Fawkes waited beneath Parliament with his sixty barrels of gunpowder and a torch for the King to arrive, he was rather inconveniently discovered by a number of informed soldiers, searching the catacombs underneath the Halls of Parliament for the alleged terrorist. Fawkes was captured and hanged, King James went into reclusion for several weeks, and ever since, the chambers under Parliament have been ceremonially searched before allowing the reigning monarch to address his or her government at the State Opening every year. From this failed attack on the monarchy and of 17th century England, a new holiday, celebrated only in the UK (but mostly just England, for obvious reasons), was born in the image of Guy Fawkes Night.

Britons, but not Americans, are aware of the effigies of Guy Fawkes burned every year on his night, and the happiness and joy the act of doing so brings to these people. Amazingly, after 402 years, the tradition has not worn out.

For any Americans that might be reading this (although I very much doubt that anyone is reading my blog), Guy Fawkes is one of the main characters in the 2005 (but really 2006 for complicated reasons that I don't care to explain) film "V for Vendetta", which is my most favourite film of all time. I have the special two-disc version of it AND it's on my iPod.

I take it back... I WILL explain the 2005/2006 thing. There was very limited release of the film in the US of A on 11 December 2005. Major release in the UK and US was not until 17 March 2006. There. Happy? Probably not.

Well that's all for tonight.

But not really
Here's the Guy Fawkes rhyme:

Remember, remember, the fifth of November
The Gunpower, Treason, and Plot
I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes
T'was 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 catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!