Remember, remember the 5th of November........

Immortalized in this nursery rhyme, the Gunpowder Plot is introduced early into the young minds of children throughout the United Kingdom. Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder treason and plot. We see no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot! Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent To blow up king and parliament. Three score barrels were laid below To prove old England's overthrow. By god's mercy he was catch'd With a darkened lantern and burning match. So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring. Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king. And what shall we do with him? Burn him! This day brings back so many happy memories for me. As children we knew this to be 'Bonfire Night' which meant bonfires built in back gardens, on spare pieces of ground and fireworks as soon as it got dark! For days leading up to this day it was a common sight to see boys and girls with their home made effigies of Guy Fawkes standing on street corners yelling out "penny for the guy!" Whatever little money was given to them (usually small amounts) was then spent on fireworks and eagerly taken home to wait for the big night! In the days and weeks before the big event gangs of children would be seen carrying any kind of offerings such as old clothes, mattresses, wood and anything they could get their hands on to build what they hoped would be bigger bonfires to rival other groups in the neighbourhood! Of course there would be rivalries and as such a lot of 'stealing' from other bonfires carried out under darkness while 'lookouts' were posted! (Darkness sets in early in the North of England in November!) On the actual night, the Guy Fawkes effigies would be raised to the top of the bonfire and the fathers would set light to the fire. We then would stand around the bonfire in little huddles, and then the excitement of the fireworks would begin. My friends and I would be holding our 'sparklers' while annoying boys in the group would set of 'jumping jacks'.....a firework that would scoot along the ground making us all jump out of the way. There was lots of 'ooohhs' and 'aaahhhs' as all the other fireworks were set off, and then the food came out! Mother's would bring out trays of potatoes which were tossed around the base of the bonfire into the glowing embers, and if we were really lucky that year, hot dogs were also roasted in the fire! Nothing beats standing around a roaring bonfire on a cold November night, watching fireworks, munching on blackened potatoes and hot dogs and drinking Tizer (a popular soft drink of the day)....and knowing that up and down the country the same thing was happening and most kids would go home happy, full, and plotting for next November 5th! These days the back garden bonfires have usually given way to more large public displays of fireworks with giant bonfires built on open land for whole communities. Still it's comforting to know that the tradition continues even after more than 400 years! This November 5th will of course be remembered around the World for a different reason! The day after the American Presidential Election which made history. Barack Hussein Obama became the first black President in American history. Today is the first day of the 'Obama Era', (even though he won't be sworn in till January 20, 2009) and already the emotions that this has evoked is so evident. People are feeling more hopeful and positive that maybe we will see better things to come not only for the USA but for the rest of the World too. I'm so happy to be alive to see this day happen. I congratulate our American friends to have the courage to make real change! So....remember remember the 5th of November..............! http://www.bonfirenight.net/remember.php (I've posted a link to a website that explains the history behind the traditions of Guy Fawkes Day)