Get up and go burn an effigy today.
… the great 5th of November. Yep it’s Guy Fawkes day today.You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about if you also eat Aero chocolate bars and enjoy a nice glass of Ribena. If you don’t know what that means, hold your baked potatoes for a second.
Guy Fawkes day is a British holiday celebrated every year on the 5th of November. The name of the holiday is a bit less awesome than the actual celebration is, however. First, you need to know where it comes from.
Remember, Remember the sweetness of 15th century costumes. Regal, don’t you say?
Basically, Guy Fawkes was a man who tried to blow up the King of England by setting the Houses of Parliament ablaze in 1605. He was a member of an English Roman Catholic group who opposed the Protestant rule in England. Needless to say, the corresponding celebration that exists today consists of some like-minded burning. Traditionally, English folks make effigies represnting the famous conspirator and burn them. Think of it as a bit like the Fourth of July, but with the actual intent to catch something on fire.
So as Halloween escapes us for another year, we wonder how we’re going to keep costuming? This year, MyDisguises is dressing up a Guy Fawkes effigy and igniting it’s likeness with love.
So what are the rules to dressing up your own Guy Fawkes effigy and celebrating it right? Hmm.. may we make a few solid suggestions.
- Make it big – Did we mention there will be fire? This is the celebration of bonfires. Don’t disgrace it with a small flame. (Note: we encourage ALL our readers who decide to participate in this glorious event to do so within the bounds of the law and after taking some intellegent safety precautions).
- Traditional or Interpretational – Okay, so it’s not like you were actually there. There are no Guy Fawkes day police that will be mad if he doesn’t look like a pilgrim. Personally, I think I’m going to go with the ugly green shirt my roommate gave me from his computer club. It should have burned a long time ago.
- Bring something to roast – I’m assuming you’ll be frying the ol’ effigy around a large flame. Although morbid, it may be nice to heat up some mallows over the guy’s body, no?According to the great authority that is Wikipedia here are some other things you can burn over your Guy…
In the United Kingdom, there are several foods that are traditionally consumed on Guy Fawkes Night: black treacle goods such as bonfire toffee and parkin, toffee apples, and baked potatoes, which are wrapped in foil and cooked in the bonfire or its embers. [via Wikipedia]
- Put some culture into it – My first Guy Fawkes celebration was last year. I was eager to burn the poor fellow, but my British friend Heather made sure we did it right. It’s necessary therefore to recite the famous lines below before burning.
- Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
- The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
- I know of no reason
- Why Gunpowder Treason
- Should ever be forgot.
- Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
- To blow up King and Parliament.
- Three-score barrels of powder below
- To prove old England’s overthrow;
- By God’s providence he was catch’d
- With a dark lantern and burning match.
- Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
- Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Well, we’ve given all we can without being there for you. Bring it home this year with style and keep on the lookout for other ideas we have for excuses to dress up.
Not the same as being there.
Again, we stress that anyone participating in this event be responsible, obey the law, and have fun.
