Guy Fawkes Day

Ok, so America has some pretty weird holidays. But, listen to this: In 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes, who was the leader of a group of Roman Catholic Restorationists, came up with the Gunpowder Plot. The idea was to blow up the house of parliament, and all the Protestants within. Although they managed to sneak explosives into the cellars underneath Parliament, he was arrested on Nov. 5, hours prior to the planned explosion, and the houses of Parliament were saved. In celebration, the UK and parts of the commonwealth light fireworks and burn a huge effigy of Guy Fawks every November 5. Here is the 50 foot effigy before (the fuel for the larger bonfire is in the background):

and after:

Children learn the following poem in school:

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

The gunpowder treason and plot,

I know of no reason

Why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Strange, but it made for an amazing display!