Guy Fawkes Night in England

So who is Guy Fawkes, and why is there a huge celebration with bonfires and fireworks all across the country?

Taken from a news story:

"Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who, spurred by religious persecution, led a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and bring down England’s Protestant monarchy. He was caught, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and tortured for four days under personal orders from King James I."

"Annual commemorations of the foiled plot began soon after, as reminders to defend England from other traitors, especially disloyal Catholics. Over time they became a day and night of fun and pranks, with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of children’s effigies of Fawkes. "

These effigies burned of Guy Fawkes have a mask resembling Guy Fawkes.... Portrait:

Mask:

This mask became famous when:

In the early 1980s, artist David Lloyd and writer Alan Moore created the graphic novel “V for Vendetta,” about a masked rebel named V who fights a fascist future British government. Lloyd suggested having the rebel wear a Guy Fawkes costume.

“We shouldn’t burn the chap every 5 November but celebrate his attempt to blow up Parliament!” Lloyd wrote in a 1983 essay titled “Behind the Painted Smile.”

This inverted Fawkes’ image — from traitor to hero fighting an unjust state. It also separated it from religion. The movie adaptation of “V for Vendetta” concocted a finale in which a whole movement of discontents wearing Guy Fawkes costumes watch the Houses of Parliament burn.

As such, you may recognize the mask from the current "Occupy Wall $treet" movement, as many of the protestors have embraced the Guy Fawkes mask as the symbol of the movement.

Now that the history lesson is over, on to the fun of Guy Fawkes Night! We spent the evening in Cambridge where there was a a huge carnival area, complete with ride, food, and "candy floss" (British for cotton candy).

The girls each chose one ride to go on. Ryann chose to wait for the Barbie motorcycle on this kids' roller coaster.

Tally chose a big kids' ride that she was probably tall enough for on her toes. Tim joined her because I don't do rides like this. Tally had the face of death after the first couple of revolutions of the ride, but after realizing that she wasn't going to die, and lots of reassurance from Tim, she started giggling and enjoyed it!

Adayla chose the bumper cars. This was chaos. There was no waiting in lines, it was a mad dash onto the floor as soon as the power cut off (cars still in motion) to claim a car for the next ride.
Great fun had by all!

Then it was time for the fireworks. This picture does not do the show any justice. This was the best fireworks show I've ever seen. The high fireworks were right over us.... and they were loud. The girls for the first time since the Katy Perry song didn't sing her song when watching fireworks, they actually cried and were scared because they were so close and loud. By the end of the show they were able to watch the show.

Following the fireworks, it was time for the bonfire. Can you see Guy Fawkes' body on top of the stack of wood?

We should have brought marshmellows!

Walking back home, we looked back to see the lights of the carnival and bonfire along the River Cam.
Already looking forward to next November 5th!