Here's a little piece of British culture that I didn't know anything about before moving here. I had heard of Guy Fawkes only through that grim view of the English future V For Vendetta. And that necessitates taking the story with a rather hearty grain of salt.But the English really do celebrate the capture of Guy Fawkes, a terrorist who in 1605 plotted to blow up the English Parliament.
And by 'celebrate,' I mean 'burn Fawkes in effigy.'
If you click on the picture above for a bigger view, you will see that there are two bodies visible, one is in a chair on the top. There were a few other bodies on there, as well, but they'd already been consumed by the massive flames by the time I arrived with my camera tripod to record all the fun. I'm not sure why the extra bodies were there, perhaps they were Fawlkes' cohorts or maybe the local scout group were over-zealous in their body-making duties?
It was all a bit gruesome, but since I love things like that, it made my heart grow even fonder of my newly adopted country and culture.
Who would guess that beneath their tweedy, dry exteriors that such blood-thirsty hearts were beating in the chests of the English??
The fire contains the ashes of many burning mysteries.
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John and I have a special place in our hearts for the movie, V For Vendetta. It was the first movie we didn't watch together.
ReplyDeleteHence the name of Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, who periodically bursts into flame. I am living vicariously through you, as I dream of living in the U.K.
ReplyDeleteI love Guy Fawkes' Night and really miss the bonfires, the cold crisp air, the toffee apples, baked potatoes and the sparklers!
ReplyDeleteHoly smokes. In more ways than one. I always learn a little something new every time I come here. Blood-thirsty traditions, Harry Potter references in comments...never a dull moment.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I love to burn shit. I have to kind of keep myself in check when I start a fire in the backyard fireplace, because I'm ready to burn everything.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a pyro too, although he had more flair. He was known to bounce a flaming tennis ball down the stairs, or use lighter fluid to light his own foot on fire to scare his mother. It's genetic.
I was born on Guy Fawkes Day. What does that tell you?
ReplyDeleteAwesome! And now we have you to teach us about the English - Yay!
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