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ping · Post edited by ping at 2013-11-05 02:55:18

Guy fawlks was part of a plot to blow up the House of lords AisA. He was caught so we celebrate catching the little blighter by burning an effigy of him and setting off fireworks, I assume they're just supposed to represent what would have happened had the gun powder plot gone ahead.
Historically I guess from around the 16th centurary there was quite a lot of anti catholic feeling in the country. During Elizabeth 1st reign Catholics were persecuted by law and forbidden to practice religious rituals etc. much of those feelings were exacerbated by the failed gun powder plot.
Today there's still tension between Catholics and Protestants, most notably in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Um... I think once you get into those things it's talking about events that cover several hundred years of history so it gets kinda complicated. If you're interested I can recommend a book...? Or you can try googling the English reformation :)

ping

^ out of interest some people use bonfire night to protest issues that are currently in the news, funnily enough while I was writing the post above there was a chap on the radio saying his local bonfire burnt an effigy of HS2 (a high speed train line they want to build)

Halloween_Jack · Post edited by Halloween_Jack at 2013-11-05 03:48:33

Yes, at Lewes, in addition to the pope, the effigies included:

1975 Arab Nationalists
1976 Idi Amin
1977 Scots Nationalists
1978 Soviet Union / China
1979 Local Tunnellers
1980 Thatcher
1981 Reagan
1982 Argentinians
1983 Foot / Kinnock
1984 Scargill / McGregor
1985 Mitterand (Rainbow Warrior)
1986 S. Africa / P.W.Botha
1987 Ayatollah
1988 Estate Agent / Nigel Lawson
1989 Football lager lout
1990 Saddam
1991 W. Waldegrave
1992 Statue of Liberty
1993 John Major
1994 Motorway builders
1995 Radovan Karadzic
1996 Mad Cows
1997 Patten the way back (Hong Kong)
1998 Captain Viagra (Clinton)
1999 Labour - New Potato (GM foods etc.)

Quite an eclectic list!

ping

^ i remember seeing thatcher been burnt at a few bonfire nights!

A_is_A

WOW?! The size of that list is rather hilarious! Come to think of it, i think it's not a bad idea to let the masses burn pictures of things they're peeved about. Let'em blow off a little steam so to speak.
Not being a particularly religious person, but of Catholic background i can't help but notice that the Catholic's take the brunt of the political persecution/jokes in stride. There is really no other religion i can think of that handles it quite as well. For example, try pulling off the Pussy Riot show at a synagogue or mosque and see what happens??
I was a bit torn with that whole thing actually. I know it's not a very popular position, but i do believe in religious freedom and i think busting into a place of worship ( a place that's been subject to violent acts of real terrorism ) wearing ski masks and desecrating an alter was a shitty thing to do.
Do i think they should have gotten so much time for it, absolutely not. But try it in the middle east or China and see what happens.
I know I'm on the unpopular side of the argument, but screw it. The board can use a little healthy debate :D

Ponygurl

I think it's left over from the actual witch burnings of yesteryore. Where the hell is it that they still have mock witch burnings..is it Norway?! ...I digress. Anywho, I just read HJ's list and thought 1993 said "John Mayer"..then realized "Your body is a wonderland" hadn't even been released yet.

ping

I saw a documentary recently on pussy riot, very interesting. I understand why a lot of people in Russia would be worried about protecting religious freedoms because of the Bolshevik's, it does seem to be going a bit too much the other way though now with how much the church and state are in bed with each other. I think that's more what the girls were protesting about, rather than simply the church. It was a very provocative act of them to do, serving time in a Siberian penal colony... Blimey I just can't even contemplate what that would be like. The thought of prison terrifies me, I'm a right coward (all mouth no trousers) so I'd have to be someone's bitch.

A_is_A · Post edited by A_is_A at 2013-11-05 14:37:42

Hahaha yep. I can play kinda ruff but i might end up someones bitch too :D I would take no offense to the actual burning of John Mayer, in actuality.

Ponygurl

Well hello there ladies! ;;) ( I wonder if all of Pussy Riot get to bunk together?! Actually, it's prob how they got their name...Duhhh)

*sorry

No I'm not.

ping

What was that film where the guy gets his mate to punch his teeth out before he goes prison, cause he doesn't want it to happen in there? I was talking to my mate Dave about it the other week and we decided I'd have to punch his out if he ever did time, he's such a big pansy he'd definitely be someone's bitch

Ponygurl

Hmm, good question. All I can think of is David Fincher's Fight Club now, haha. Oh, and Caged Heat...but that really doesn't help..does it. Or does it???

ping

I've had to text Dave to ask...

Hells_Bells

Was told to put Angry Birds on my Kindle as its really addictive and fun.

1. Yes it is addictive

2. Yes it is fun

3. Im stuck and cant get any further

4. Need to find a child to get me onto the next level so any assistance??

Whickwithy · Post edited by Whickwithy at 2013-11-05 18:47:41

Remember, remember!

The fifth of November,

The Gunpowder treason and plot;

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes and his companions

Did the scheme contrive,

To blow the King and Parliament

All up alive.

Threescore barrels, laid below,

To prove old England's overthrow.

But, by God's providence, him they catch,

With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

A stick and a stake

For King James's sake!

If you won't give me one,

I'll take two,

The better for me,

And the worse for you.

A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,

A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,

A pint of beer to wash it down,

And a jolly good fire to burn him.

Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!

Holloa, boys! holloa boys!

I like it. I also like the quote in 'V for Vendetta". "People shouldn't ever fear their government but a government should always fear the people". Not likely, but a nice idea.

A little more detail....

English Folk Verse (c.1870)

The Fifth of November

Remember, remember!

The fifth of November,

The Gunpowder treason and plot;

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes and his companions

Did the scheme contrive,

To blow the King and Parliament

All up alive.

Threescore barrels, laid below,

To prove old England's overthrow.

But, by God's providence, him they catch,

With a dark lantern, lighting a match!

A stick and a stake

For King James's sake!

If you won't give me one,

I'll take two,

The better for me,

And the worse for you.

A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,

A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,

A pint of beer to wash it down,

And a jolly good fire to burn him.

Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!

Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!

Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

Perhaps most widely known in America from its use in the movie V for Vendetta,
versions of the above poem have been wide spread in England for
centuries. They celebrate the foiling of (Catholic) Guy Fawkes's
attempt to blow up (Protestant controlled) England's House of Parliament
on November 5th, 1605. Known variously as Guy Fawkes Day, Gunpowder Treason Day, and Fireworks Night, the November 5th celebrations in some time periods included the burning of the Pope or Guy Fawkes in effigy.

This traditional verse exists in a large number of variations and the
above version has been constructed to give a flavor for the major themes
that appear in them. Several of the books referenced below cite even
earlier sources.

Some of you may remember that I fell in love with the song "Ocean Potion" (I kept posting it about once a week) by a Scottish band called, Remember Remember. I think the Scots are way cool.

Hells_Bells · Post edited by Hells_Bells at 2013-11-05 19:06:36

A true English person knows that Guy Fawkes was the only person who ever went to Parliament with any real good intention!

By the way, there are a lot of connections in Northamptonshire to other suspects/plotters to this event with names of such places like Rushton Hall, Tresham, Vaux Hall which connects to Vauxhall the car people and I'm sure there's loads more but need my Dad to tell me.

Bit further on in history Oliver Cromwell stayed at the Hind Hotel and his cavalry men rode their horses into Bozeat church to rid it off its resplendent borderline Catholic gold. You can still see the spur marks in the church to this day!

Howdy, Stranger!

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