Here are two pictures that I hope captures the thrill and warmth of Bonfire Night. In the UK, Halloween is not a big deal at all, but in some areas Guy Fawkes night, November 5th is as big or bigger!!. Guy plotted to blow up the King and parliament in 1605. The "gunpowder plot" was to turn protestants out of power. So there's a 'little' religious tinge to this. The plotters were unsuccessful. They were arrested and put to death. Our little Lewes, a town of 16,000, has the biggest celebration of Guy Fawkes' downfall in the entire United Kingdom. Six main "Bonfire Societies" plan the entire year to celebrate by first parading around the town (with fire) and then having huge bonfires where they make large amounts of smoke and burn the pope in effigy, and this year Gordon Brown, John McCain, and Barack Obama. Something like 1/3 of the adult population of Lewes belongs to one of these societies. Our town of 16,000 had 18,000 guests for the evening, including five MA-seeking Fulbrighters who stayed at our house! If you ever come here, and ask about Bonfire night, they will ask you if you are Catholic before they say anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment