Well, they don't celebrate Halloween here like we do in the US. It is starting to become popular but really just in small pockets. The kids typically only trick or treat at houses where they know people.
The UK celebrates Guy Fawkes Day, every year on November 5th. Who is Guy Fawkes you may ask and why do they celebrate him? Surely he must be a great man.... great is an adjective that could be contested, for sure. He was either very stupid or absolutely brilliant. I am not exactly sure which. I will let you, my dear reader decide!
Guy Fawkes was an English man that converted to Catholicism at a time when Catholicism was not popular in England. James I was king and he was Protestant. Fawkes eventually moved to Spain to fight on the side of the Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch Reformers. There, he met up with a gentleman, Thomas Wintour and eventually moved back to England. Wintour introduced him to another man, Robert Catesby who was plotting to assassinate King James I, in hopes to restore a Catholic to the throne. The plot later became known as the Gunpower Plot.
The men planned to blow up the House of Lords. They letted a space under the chamber and began to store explosives in the space. Shortly after midnight, November 5, 1605, Fawkes was guarding the space when he was caught due to an anonymous letter that was written to a Catholic member of Parliament. Fawkes was subsequently imprisoned and tortured until he revealed the names of the co-conspirators.
He was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hung (almost to the point of death) and then (while still alive) drawn and quartered (ouch!) with the other men. He was the last in line and watched the other men have their sentence carried out. Before they could execute him in the same manner, he stepped off the high scaffolding and fell to his death by breaking his neck (brilliance!). It spared him the physical torture of his sentence, but the sentence was still carried out on his dead body.
November 5, 1605, the citizens of England were encouraged to light bonfires to celebrate the king escaping assassination. An act of Parliament was created to make each November 5th a joyful act of thanksgiving. The tradition of lighting bonfires has continued and in the 1600's fireworks were added to the festivities. Effigies of Guy are also burned. For many years it was celebrated with an anti-Catholic sentiments. Now, it is a peaceful celebration to be enjoyed by all.
We are going to celebrate the evening at the school. I plan to take the camera and take lots of pictures!
The UK celebrates Guy Fawkes Day, every year on November 5th. Who is Guy Fawkes you may ask and why do they celebrate him? Surely he must be a great man.... great is an adjective that could be contested, for sure. He was either very stupid or absolutely brilliant. I am not exactly sure which. I will let you, my dear reader decide!
Guy Fawkes was an English man that converted to Catholicism at a time when Catholicism was not popular in England. James I was king and he was Protestant. Fawkes eventually moved to Spain to fight on the side of the Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch Reformers. There, he met up with a gentleman, Thomas Wintour and eventually moved back to England. Wintour introduced him to another man, Robert Catesby who was plotting to assassinate King James I, in hopes to restore a Catholic to the throne. The plot later became known as the Gunpower Plot.
The men planned to blow up the House of Lords. They letted a space under the chamber and began to store explosives in the space. Shortly after midnight, November 5, 1605, Fawkes was guarding the space when he was caught due to an anonymous letter that was written to a Catholic member of Parliament. Fawkes was subsequently imprisoned and tortured until he revealed the names of the co-conspirators.
He was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hung (almost to the point of death) and then (while still alive) drawn and quartered (ouch!) with the other men. He was the last in line and watched the other men have their sentence carried out. Before they could execute him in the same manner, he stepped off the high scaffolding and fell to his death by breaking his neck (brilliance!). It spared him the physical torture of his sentence, but the sentence was still carried out on his dead body.
November 5, 1605, the citizens of England were encouraged to light bonfires to celebrate the king escaping assassination. An act of Parliament was created to make each November 5th a joyful act of thanksgiving. The tradition of lighting bonfires has continued and in the 1600's fireworks were added to the festivities. Effigies of Guy are also burned. For many years it was celebrated with an anti-Catholic sentiments. Now, it is a peaceful celebration to be enjoyed by all.
We are going to celebrate the evening at the school. I plan to take the camera and take lots of pictures!
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