Bonfire Night
During the “Occupy Protests” all over the world in October, you may have noticed people wearing a mask made popular by the anarchist V in the film V for Vendetta. This mask was not of your random Joe Bloggs but of Guy Fawkes, a failed revolutionary from the 17th Century, who unsuccessfully attempted with his fellow comrades from the Gunpowder Plot to blow up, the Houses of Parliament and assassinate King James I in 1605. His motives were both religious and political in that he had wanted to see a Catholic King on the throne once again. He was caught red handed, guarding the explosives beneath the House of Lords on 5th November 1605. He of course was not let off lightly and as a result was tortured while he was alive and after his death! Due to the fact that King James I survived, he felt that this should be annually celebrated and as a result a public holiday day was declared on 5th November, where revelers would stand around a bonfire burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes, and children would beg for money and chant out the following rhyme:
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!
Unfortunately it was decided in 1859 that a public holiday was no longer needed to celebrate the failed plot. However until this day, there are 5th November events all around England celebrating not the failed plot but the biggest, brightest and loudest firework around!
I wonder, if the protesters from the “Occupy Protests” will be out celebrating on 5th November?
Glossary:
treason: the offense of acting to overthrow one's government
overthrow: to remove by force someone from a position of power
a farthing: something of very small value
holloa: a cry for attention, or of encouragement
by Ritu Marwaha;institute4langugaes