Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Bonfire Night.

When I was working in South Yorkshire, I did the best I could to make sure I was up on culture.  After all, as much as we hate to admit it modern Britain is not the romantic comedy fairy tale Richard Curtis (the director of classics such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually) would have us believe.  I watch The Full Monty and Brassed Off, that dealt with the societal concerns of the industrial north, both in comedic fashions.  I read books such as Culture Shock! and spent time talking with people who had been an American expat in Britain.

Despite my best intentions, there were several things that never crossed my radar as I prepared to move.  The first occurred about late October/ early November when the time changed from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time.  It got dark early.  I never fathomed how quickly the days would get shorter as winter came about.  I knew that I was further north than I’d ever been.  As such, I assumed it would get dark early.  But not that early.  The sun was setting by 4pm!  I think I actually suffered from a slight case of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Even though I was surprised by short days, what really got me was kids running around all excited about Bonfire Night.  Being from rural Alabama and having heard more than a few racially insensitive comments, I was not sure whether bonfire night was something I needed to be a part of.  And things only got worse when kids and their parents started talking about burning guys (little did I know they meant Guys).  But I was assured that their was nothing non-pc (unless you are from York) about Bonfire Night, so I went.  What great fun. It was like a mash-up of July 4 and college homecoming.  Food, fireworks, bonfires, (and burning effigies).

As I was standing there taking in the spectacle of Bonfire Night, I was told the story of Guy Fawkes.  He and some friends decided it was a good thing to blow up Parliament, along with King James I and the members of Parliament.  It was to be a protest of the bans on catholicism.

The plot was discovered at the last minute and no one was harmed.  Well, the conspirators were.  They were hung, drawn and quartered, except for Fawkes, who jumped off the gallows and broke his neck.

The King mandated that everyone observe the day that the plot of discovered.  And now, the mandated observance and obeisance to the King is one of many good excuses for a party… and burning something.