Njugle Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 So, here's one for you. I may regret this, but hey-ho... Guy Fawkes night, what's that all about? We annually celebrate the capture and subsequent torture and death of a terrorist intent on assassinating the English King, doubly clouded by the fact that his declaration prior to brutal torture was: Wikipedia[/url]"]that his intention was "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains." ...and that he wasn't burned, rather he was hanged by his own volition upon the gallows to avoid the subsequent "drawing and quartering" that he would have suffered. To summarise, we all get together around pyres once a year to burn an effigy of a Catholic, Scottish-hating terrorist, who committed suicide in 1606, after three months of torture. Kinda opens up a world of gruesome and unpalatable possibilities. What are we celebrating, again? His failure, his death, the survival of James I, or, perhaps, and earlier festival hidden under the guise of Guy Fawkes night(as is sometimes the case) or just the excuse to blow things up and burn things on a smaller scale, and perhaps burn effigies of any chosen adversary? I dunno, just askin' (*** Mod - split into new topic of its very own... ***) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EM Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Guy Fawkes night, what's that all about? Something I posted on the topic a while ago:The concept of burning effigies of people obviously brings to mind the 5th Nov Guy Fawkes bonfire activities. Whenever I have explained this to non-UK people (who generally know nothing about it) they are usually dumbfounded. Indeed I think that quite a few think I am winding them up. It is indeed incredible that such an overtly anti-catholic festival has been going on in such a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I remember hearing that it was a legal obligation to celebrate Guy Fawkes night and Wikipedia confirms this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes An Act of Parliament designated each 5 November as a day of thanksgiving for "the joyful day of deliverance", and remained in force until 1859 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I only celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes failed! To blow the lot up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wullie m. Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 For the English people the success of removing their Scottish king and all of the nobility, would have been catastrophic and the return to the days of Bloody Mary, the wholesale burning of live people and the imposition of Catholicism. Spain would control the country as she did the Netherlands. Remember the wholesale extermination of the Dutch people was once considered by the Spaniards. They made a fair stab at it! What freedoms we have in this country were hard won and easily forgotten by a generation which has never had to struggle for anything. I will attend a bonfire as usual this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EM Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 I will attend a bonfire as usual this year.Quite right, pyromania is a joy. The anti-catholic angle is so peculiar in a supposed modern society (even Blue Peter used to get in on the whole deal), but certainly not a reason to stop enjoying the fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wullie m. Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 EM, the Catholic clergy were fine once the matches were taken from them! I don't have any religious convictions myself but those who have should have the freedom to hold them without without running the risk of immolation! In this so called "modern society" there are still folk in this world who are murdered or blown to kingdom-come for their adherences, or lack of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njugle Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 The more harmless fires and bangs the better. It's a mind-boggling historical remnant though, when you re-read the story in any more depth than the one sentence explanation you get when young. Other cultures may publicly burn effigies in response to an event, and we may scorn them for doing so, but here it was made compulsory, and then continued the custom for 400 years. All concealed by the naming convention really. If it was called anti-terrorist day, or anti-catholic day, it would be an entirely different affair.......for a short time, until it was banned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peerietank Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 personally ( i'm catholic myself) as far as i'm concerned the catholic church is the biggest bunch of hypocrites going, so i say burn the blinkin lot of them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 I only celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes failed! To blow the lot up. Yup! Kinda a "reminder" to the Government each year that next time the plot could succeed. Definitely not a celebration though, more of a memorial to what could/should have occured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twerto Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Dont know about anyone else but I am personally celebrating the annual baked tattie bake off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 It has turned into a community event, that is fine, I don't think the hedgehogs would agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 It has turned into a community event, that is fine, I don't think the hedgehogs would agree. blowing up parliament should be a community event, Scotland and the House of Commons both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 I suppose you would need the whole community to supply the puff to do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Must admit that I hadn't really given the whole 'bonfire night' thing much thought.. But celebrating the failed attempt by a terrorist makes me worry that sometime in the future we might find the youngsters being taught 'remember remember the eleventh of September' and have them throwing bearded dummies out of helicopters into the sea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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