Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Exactly 400 years ago today, Guy Fawkes and his merry band of proto-terrorists attempted to blow up Parliament and assassinate the King, but the attempt was foiled. If successful, it would have been the worst terrorist action in British history even to this day, as it would have killed the King (James I), his direct heir, many of the key leaders in the English goverment, and perhaps dozens of other people in the area. It could have changed the entire course of British history.

The English commemorate this failed plot by having bonfire and fireworks celebrations, and we were invited to one of these at a friend's house tonight. On the bonfire we burned an effigy of Guy Fawkes. If you look closely at this picture you can just see his legs hanging off the front of the fire...

In the days leading up to Bonfire Night there were what you might call "practice fireworks" going off every evening all around us. And tonight, on the night itself, fireworks are set off everywhere, from stadiums to parks to people's backyards--from about 7 to 11 pm there are literally fireworks popping off like popcorn in every direction. The streets are filled with the smoke. Friends back in Canada, trust us, you have never seen anything like it!

It seems to me that it's appropriate to celebrate a foiled terrorist plot of such magnitude, but am I the only one who thinks it odd to celebrate a failed explosion and fire by setting off thousands of explosions and fires? The fire departments are undoubtedly extra busy on this night--perhaps Guy Fawkes is having the last laugh after all... ;-)