Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night (traditionally known as Bonfire, or Fireworks, Night) is an annual celebration (but not a public holiday) on the evening of the 5th of November primarily in the United Kingdom, but also in former British colonies New Zealand, the island of Newfoundland (Canada), Vancouver Island, Canada, parts of the British Caribbean including the Bahamas, and to some extent by their nationals abroad. Bonfire Guy Fawkes Night was common in Australia until the 1980s. but it was held on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June.
It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in which a group of Catholic conspirators, led by one Robert Catesby, and including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Palace of Westminster on the evening of 5 November 1605, when the Protestant James I of England (James VI of Scotland), his eldest sons, and the majority of the English Parliament were within its walls. The conspirators were later tortured and executed.
The celebrations, which in the United Kingdom take place in towns and villages across the country, involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires, on which "guys", or dummies, representing Guy Fawkes, the most infamous of the conspirators, are traditionally burnt. Before the fifth, children traditionally use the "guys" to beg for money with the chant "Penny for the guy". In recent years the night is becoming increasingly known as "Guy Fawkes Night".
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night (and the weekend closest to it) is the main night for both amateur and official fireworks displays in the UK and New Zealand.
As the twentieth century wore on, increased disposable income led to larger and larger fireworks being used in domestic settings, and by children, and greater concerns about safety came to the fore in general. Medical professionals attribute fireworks incidents to causing the loss of eyesight, or fingers, and numerous cases of burns and related injuries. Fire and Police officials identify the Guy Fawkes period as a very busy time, with numerous call outs to fires caused by fireworks and complaints about the misuse of fireworks endangering the public, or damaging property, often with improvised explosive devices using large quantities of fireworks. Others also point out that animals are distressed by the sounds, and bright flashes, of Guy Fawkes Night and call for animals to be kept inside, in quiet places. Zoo staff often express particular concerns for their animals' safety.
Campaigners have used these concerns to press for restrictions on fireworks sales in the countries that celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. These have ranged from voluntary codes of practice to calls for an outright ban on personal use, with professional public displays being called for instead.
In New Zealand, the retail sale of personal use fireworks is now permitted to those 18 and older, and may now only be sold on the 4 days leading to Guy Fawkes Night. Firecrackers and rockets have been banned for some time. Despite these restrictions, and contrary to popular belief, there is actually no restriction on when one may light fireworks, only a restriction on when they may be sold.
and my take on it all is why spend huge amounts of money when for the cost of a ride into town (Wellington) we can watch a huge display on Guy Fawkes night itself that is put together as a huge professional display set off from barges in the middle of the harbour!
If you haven't seen V for Vendetta yet this might be a good time to watch it
It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in which a group of Catholic conspirators, led by one Robert Catesby, and including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Palace of Westminster on the evening of 5 November 1605, when the Protestant James I of England (James VI of Scotland), his eldest sons, and the majority of the English Parliament were within its walls. The conspirators were later tortured and executed.
The celebrations, which in the United Kingdom take place in towns and villages across the country, involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires, on which "guys", or dummies, representing Guy Fawkes, the most infamous of the conspirators, are traditionally burnt. Before the fifth, children traditionally use the "guys" to beg for money with the chant "Penny for the guy". In recent years the night is becoming increasingly known as "Guy Fawkes Night".
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night (and the weekend closest to it) is the main night for both amateur and official fireworks displays in the UK and New Zealand.
As the twentieth century wore on, increased disposable income led to larger and larger fireworks being used in domestic settings, and by children, and greater concerns about safety came to the fore in general. Medical professionals attribute fireworks incidents to causing the loss of eyesight, or fingers, and numerous cases of burns and related injuries. Fire and Police officials identify the Guy Fawkes period as a very busy time, with numerous call outs to fires caused by fireworks and complaints about the misuse of fireworks endangering the public, or damaging property, often with improvised explosive devices using large quantities of fireworks. Others also point out that animals are distressed by the sounds, and bright flashes, of Guy Fawkes Night and call for animals to be kept inside, in quiet places. Zoo staff often express particular concerns for their animals' safety.
Campaigners have used these concerns to press for restrictions on fireworks sales in the countries that celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. These have ranged from voluntary codes of practice to calls for an outright ban on personal use, with professional public displays being called for instead.
In New Zealand, the retail sale of personal use fireworks is now permitted to those 18 and older, and may now only be sold on the 4 days leading to Guy Fawkes Night. Firecrackers and rockets have been banned for some time. Despite these restrictions, and contrary to popular belief, there is actually no restriction on when one may light fireworks, only a restriction on when they may be sold.
and my take on it all is why spend huge amounts of money when for the cost of a ride into town (Wellington) we can watch a huge display on Guy Fawkes night itself that is put together as a huge professional display set off from barges in the middle of the harbour!
If you haven't seen V for Vendetta yet this might be a good time to watch it