Depending which side you were on, a person was either labelled a freedom fighter or a terrorist. In that regard, we have just been paying annual homage to Guy Fawkes with the usual pyrotechnic displays, officially centred on a bonfire with an effigy on it, called a 'Guy'. No prizes for guessing why. These days what are we celebrating?
The French don't ritually burn Jeanne D'Arc - who died at the stake - every year. But, we ritually ignite a long forgotten character who had every intention of blowing up the mother of all parliament's together with all who sat in her chamber, including the king.
Nowadays, November the 5th is just an excuse to brighten up dark nights with a bonfire, buy and let off a few bangers sparklers and any other gunpowder designs in a firework. Who understands or bothers with;
"Please to remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot".
arctictern
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Yeah, we are celebrating the burning of a bloke who failed in a mission that at the time, half the country, if they had known, would have wished it a success. Now there's a paradox.
I don't blame him for the entrance to Lidl being blocked with a Big Issue seller, a poppy seller who was dressed suspiciously like a member of the BNP and two lads with a pile of rags meekly mumbling "penny for the guy" so they could buy some bangers and frighten the shit out of my two cats. In the end I donated to the "me" fund and kept my hand in my pocket.