5th november

[Yorkey64]

after reading the post on the 4th july I thought I would post this date and see who in the usa knows about it and what is traditionally done on that date

[hotjulie]

I know what that day is all about, that's the day that I always get laid, but why would that be celebrated in the USA?

[WalterB]

Julie, I thought that was our secret,

[CGYMike]

An interesting read today about Guy Fawkes' and his plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605.

Who says you can't learn something new every day?

And Julie, just because some Guy Fawkes', doesn't mean that you necessarily get laid, but knowing you, you probably do

Thanks for the post today Yorkey


Mike

[PeterL22]

It's my bath night!
But seriously The Gunpowder Plot was an interesting event in British history!
Another question for you US guys - Which commoner ruled Britain?

[Davest]

after reading the post on the 4th july I thought I would post this date and see who in the usa knows about it and what is traditionally done on that date

The first thing that came to mind was Exxxotica, New Jersey.

Then I thought, "when the gales of November come early?"

Third place was 'remember, remember...'

[viper23]

It's my bath night!
But seriously The Gunpowder Plot was an interesting event in British history!
Another question for you US guys - Which commoner ruled Britain?

Damn you, Peter. I just get in from cutting down a tree in the hot summer sun and I decide to read this post before cleaning up, see your question and know I know the answer For five minutes I sit here racking my exhausted brain When I think 'It's got to be Oliver Cromwell' (before looking it up on the web) I'm still not sure if I'm right

[stickyvicky]

from wikipedia:
Immediately before his execution on 31 January, Fawkes fell from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agony of the mutilation that followed.
Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in Britain since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a fireworks display.

I don't understand why its a holiday though? Are banks and post offices actually closed? You have fireworks on Guy Fawkes day? It just seems weird to me? Why celebrate some nutcase who tried to blow you up? Aren't there other nutcases who tried to blow up Britain? Why celebrate him? If we celebrated every thwarted attempt here in the USA we'd have a holiday every week, lol...

[PeterL22]

To viper - give that man a prize. Cromwell indeed (although Maggie Thatcher did start using the "Royal we" - Sovereigns and Royalty never use first person singular (I) when talking about themselves, they always use first person plural (We) - as per Queen Victoria's famous - "We are not amused"

To Vicky - 5th Nov isn't a bank holiday with people having the day off and banks etc closing down. Its simply an excuse to go out in the evening with (in correct order) booze, food bonfire and fireworks. Traditionally an effigy of Guido Fawkes (his real name) is burnt on the bonfire and we talk about a "GUY". Again in the past kids would make a Guy before the 5th and take it out around the streets and beg for money ("Penny for the Guy) which they used to buy fireworks. I think we celebrate it because he failed and Parliament was saved - Democracy was saved - although with our MPs and Government, there are those that argue we shouldn't celebrate the failure.........
There is talk of another Public Holiday being instituted in the UK - Jeremy Corbyn wanted to have one for each of the Nations' patron Saint - e.g. Wales = St David = 1st March, England = St george = 23rd April, & Scotland = St Andrew = 30th Nov. Another idea that has been put forward is Trafalgar Day 21st Oct - after Nelson's victory over the combined (yes two of them) fleets of Spain & France in 1805.
Who said I can't be educational!

[PeterL22]

Just realised I left Northern Ireland out of patron saints - I suppose they must have St Patrick 17th March.
What a lot of people don't realise was that Patrick wasn't born in Ireland - he was a Welsh missionary who went over there!
Must have stayed for the Guiness