Bang!

Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

And it hasn't been forgotten. In the year 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament (no comment), tried and convicted as a traitor and then hung, drawn and quartered. A year later the king and members of Parliament commissioned a sermon to be read every November 5th and the above rhyme is one such example. It's a rhyme I learnt as a child and one that is still repeated today.

It was compulsory to celebrate Guy Fawkes night until 1859 and I suppose because the populace had to celebrate, then they decided to do it in style. In time, people began to make effigies to burn on bonfires and when fireworks became more readily available then they too were implemented into the celebrations. As children we would make a guy from old clothes, stuffed with newspaper and place a mask made from the same pulpy paper they used to make egg boxes from on its head. The guy would be taken to a good spot, usually the Red Lion pub, and my brother and me would demand 'a penny for the guy' from passers-by and the occasional drunk. The making of a guy was an integral part of earning money to buy fireworks but to be quite honest all of our money went on Black Jacks and Fruit Salads in the sweet shop. I've not seen anyone with a guy for many years, I expect it still goes on, but in the 70's you couldn't walk along the high street without some snotty nosed kid thrusting his hand in front of your face and demanding money.

Confession time.

I hate Fireworks. A close encounter with the wrong end of a sparkler turned me off at a very early age. Ok, maybe hate is too strong a word, I don't stand at the window shaking a fist at a passing rocket, but I do dislike them. I could always take them or leave them and the only time in recent years that I have attended a party on fireworks night resulted in a lot of beer drinking and a number of fireworks falling over and chasing screaming kids around the garden. It was a very surreal night...bloody funny at the time though.

I think it's time we stopped tormenting Guy Fawkes, he has been punished enough. Besides, I see today that MP's in Britain want to award themselves a £40,000 a year pay rise...you can insert your own ending here .............................................................................