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I'm surprised that no-one has said that today is when Britons up and down the land annually ritually burn an effegy of a Roman catholic tonight?

I'm surprised the EU hasn't banned it yet for being "out of harmony" with the rest of the EU!

BTW - one of "our" EU people wants to get Trafalgar Sq and Waterloo station renamed for a similar reason!

"one of "our" EU people wants to get Trafalgar Sq and Waterloo station renamed for a similar reason!"

Do tell -- Who is it?

I cannot remember the name.

It was on LBC's "Nick Ferrari" show.

I believe it was a liberal democrat.

He said that currently those names are unsuitable and offensive to the French in an era when we are "all as one".

I was going to suggest that (in light of this) the French rename "Arc de Triomphe" to "Churchill Bendy-thing" but I'm sure it'll fall on deaf ears.

I'm sure UKIPites would dearly love the EU to 'ban' events such as those yesterday, as they would then be able to push for withdrawal from the Community.

Unfortunately for them, such an opportunity is not on offer.

As a non-UKIPite I need *no* persuading!

Anyone care to explain to an ignorant American what Guy Fawkes day is all about?

Historic background
===================

After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had had a rough time under her reign had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. Alas, he was not, and this angered a number of young men who decided that violent action was the answer.

One young man in particular, Robert Catesby suggested to some close friends that the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.


To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored it in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.

But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that some innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. Was the letter real?

The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.

Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.

Celebartions today
==================
The tradition of Guy Fawkes-related bonfires actually began the very same year as the failed coup. The Plot was foiled in the night between the 4th and 5th of November 1605. Already on the 5th, agitated Londoners who knew little more than that their King had been saved, joyfully lit bonfires in thanksgiving. As years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate.

Soon, people began placing effigies onto bonfires, and fireworks were added to the celebrations. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes those of the Pope, graced the pyres. Still today, some communities throw dummies of both Guy Fawkes and the Pope on the bonfire (and even those of a contemporary politician or two), although the gesture is seen by most as a quirky tradition, rather than an expression of hostility towards the Pope.

Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dummy of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities.

On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky.

The extent of the celebrations and the size of the bonfire varies from one community to the next. Lewes, in the South East of England, is famous for its Bonfire Night festivities and consistently attracts thousands of people each year to participate.

Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.


(The above was "lifted" from http://www.bonefire.org/guy/gunpowder.php)

bonefire.org: "Some of the English have been known to wonder whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government."

Indeed.

"To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored it in a cellar, just under the House of Lords."

I thought it was Westminster Hall?

"But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that some innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th."

There's also a suspicion that Robert Cecil, Secretary of State, knew about the plot and allowed it to continue in order to discredit English Catholics. Thus he was unsurprised on seeing the Monteagle letter, unlike the King when it was finally shown to him six days later.

Guy Fawkes was essentially the 'odd one out' amongst the plotters; whereas the rest were political conspirators, he was simply someone who knew about gunpowder and happened to be Catholic. It's part of the usual turn of events that an insignificant man receives the 'glory' of sorts.

"Soon, people began placing effigies onto bonfires, and fireworks were added to the celebrations. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes those of the Pope, graced the pyres."

Contrary to some belief, Fawkes himself was never burned.

"the gesture is seen by most as a quirky tradition, rather than an expression of hostility towards the Pope."

It doesn't stop the fact that these are still anti-Catholic events, which still cause trouble in the familiar locations of Northern Ireland, Merseyside and west central Scotland.

"Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy.""

Before they decided that asking for sweets and terrorising the neighbours a week earlier was more appealing! Also before public begging by children became socially unacceptable.

"The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities."

Before they were banned from doing so.

There's also an amusing story about what happened after the plot had failed.

The conspirators (minus Fawkes) had escaped with the remaining gunpowder to Holbeach House in Staffordshire. As the powder had become damp during their journey they decided to dry it out - in front of the fire. The severe consequences symbolised the incompetence of the plotters, the survivors of whom were all eventually rounded up and killed.

The legacy of the event will be evident in two weeks' time when, on the eve of the State Opening of Parliament, Yeomen of the Guard will inspect the basement of the House of Lords to prevent a repeat of the exercise.

"Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy."..... The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities."

From what I've seen of the price of fireworks these days, they'd have to collect rather a lot of pennies for anything more than a couple of sparklers.

"Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed. "

I believe he was also hiding five trading scales marked in lbs only.

I flew in from dublin last year on bonfire night. I can tell you that from 24000ft right down to 200ft its actually more impressive seeing the celbrations for miles around from the aeroplane than it is on the floor.

Finally - 5th November is when they tried to destroy parliament and all that parliament stood for.

Wasn't maastricht signed on 5th November?

Maastricht was signed on 7 February 1992.

Something was signed, or enacted on 5th November eminating from the lovely EU.

Can anyone remember what it was?