Remember Remember the 5th of November Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
Are we losing this celebration of catholic persecution?
Remember Remember the 5th of November Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
Yep, it's that night of the year when Great Britian (Northern Ireland have theirs on 11th November ahead of 12th July) when we burn a guy on top of the bonfire, eat toffee apples, parkin and jacket potatoes and set off fireworks, or do we?
We all know that many fireworks displays are happening tonight, whether in private gardens or massive organised events. But, how many of those displays will be accompanied by the burning of an effigy on top of a massive bonfire whilst the gathered masses munch on autumnal treats?
Without wanting to sound like someone harking for "the good old days" I do remember my school would have a proper bonfire night celebration and we would make a guy to burn and spend the week leading up to bonfire night (or the Friday closest to it) building the bonfire on the school field.
It is true that the overall number of organised bonfires have decreased and the reasons for that are plentiful from environmental to expense to realising the sectarianism behind the night. Having said that, how many Catholic schools have fireworks displays? Is it being lost to Halloween 5 days before as a more popular, commercialised celebration?
Is the true meaning of the night and the story of the gunpowder plot (not just Guy Fawkes being caught on the night of November 4th counting barrels under the houses of Parliament).
Is everyone still aware of Robert Catesby, including Thomas Wintour, John Wright, and Thomas Percy, to name just a few of the co conspiritors? Are the reasons why Catesby gathered these co conspiritors together still understood? The accession of James VI / I to the English throne, son of a Catholic Queen there was an assumption he would be sympathetic to the Catholics who had been perscuted under the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. However James was a protestant of a Scottish Presbyterian flavour and his wife, Anne, a protestant of a Lutheran flavour.
It soon became clear he wouldn't be sympathetic for the Catholic cause and so the plot was founded with the aim of blowing up the King and his parliament and re establishing a Catholic monarchy in the UK. Bearing in mind, the Church of England, established by Henry VIII was not even 100 years old at this point.
We all know what happened once Guy Fawkes was busted, he was tortured to confession and all the conspiritors were rounded up and hung, drawn and quartered as was the punishment for treason. Not exactly.
Fawkes jumped off the scafold before the executioner had chance to cut off his testicles and disembowel him and so died from a broken neck by hanging.
His body was then quartered and send to all four corners of the land Catesby and a coupe of others were shot at Holbeche house. He was later exhumed, beheaded and his head displayed outside parliament.
King James announced that this success of the capture of the conspiritors should be celebrated every year on 5th November, the anniversary of the State opening of Parliament. Even today the yeoman of the guard seach the vaults of parliament by the light of lanterns on the eve of the state opening of parliament.
Yes, it is a gruesome story, however it is important in understanding why we let off a load of fireworks on 5th November and some bonfires are lit and maybe a guy will be burned.
The sectarianism connotations may have beem written out of today over the years zo everyone can be involved (except St Paul's school in York, where Guy Gawkes attended).
So happy persecution of catholics day, however you are celebrating it!!!!
Seriously we need to keep our history alive no matter how gruesome or sectarian it may be in order to understand who we are and why we have these events.
Right where is my toffee apple?
I love this! Give us more!
I no longer bother with Bonfire night but I am partial to a slab of Parkin (especially with custard).
Fireworks seem to be used for any occasion nowadays but back in the day they were reserved for bonfire night so were a special treat. The only time I enjoy a firework display is if it's accompanied by the 1812 Overture like they used to do at Classical Fantasia that used to be on at Kirkstall Abbey.
As a kid though friends and I would do the rounds with a guy for some money to share to spend on sweets. We'd all go on the hunt for firewood. My mates dad would build the fire in the back garden and we'd all get together as neighbours.