Remember Remember the 5th of November

[HiredGoon]

Remember, remember the fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Nov. 5th is Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night in Great Britain. Commemorating the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 of Roman Catholic conspirators to blow up King James and Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder under the House of Lords. Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar with the 36 barrels of gunpowder on November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed. Ever since, Nov. 5th is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires and burning the Guy in effigy. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.

In the American colonies, Halloween was not celebrated, but on Nov. 5th, Pope's Day was. Pope's Day was the American version of Guy Fawkes day. Instead of the Guy being burned in effigy it was the Pope. Many of the practices of the modern American Halloween, can be traced back to the Puritan New England celebration of Pope's Day. Devil costumes, jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treat, etc, were all common practices of Pope's Day in the colonies.

 

[ksen]

MOD HAT ON:

This thread is for historical discussion. Please make sure to follow the posting rules especially rules 1 and 2 since this could be a potentially inflammatory topic.

Thanks.
-ksen

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