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[Charles Brandon]

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Spoiler

Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

This Saturday communities all over England will hold huge bonfires and fireworks displays to celebrate the thwarting of the popish plot of 1605 to blow up the houses of parliament. It's kinda crazy that we still celebrate this victory over the insidious forces of Catholicism. But we do.

Some of those images above are from the town of Lewes in Sussex, which has a tradition for the most hardcore and elaborate bonfires and effigy burnings.

The tradition of 'penny for the guy' seems to have died out now though (this was where urchins would construct a crude effigy of Guy Fawkes and ask passers by for small change in recognition of the effort).

Hopefully, this year, my kids won't start crying as soon as the fireworks come out. The little fools.

 

[Cymbal Head]

 

[Elandyll]

I shall make sure to watch V for Vendetta this Saturday

Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you, and you may call me V.

 

[Captain_Fujisawa]

Ah, bonfire night, where youths try to blind people. I went to pick my wife up from the MAC in Birmingham last night. When I arrived there was a police car there. Turns out some hooded balaclava clad youth decided to shoot a firework at the receptionist. Fun times.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Ah, bonfire night, where youths try to blind people. I went to pick my wife up from the MAC in Birmingham last night. When I arrived there was a police car there. Turns out some hooded balaclava clad youth decided to shoot a firework at the receptionist. Fun times.

Blame that bollox on Halloween, son.

 

[ponpo]

 

[Already Torn]

It's November 1st.

You forgot what day it is.

 

[Charles Brandon]

It's November 1st.

You forgot what day it is.

This is a preview

 

[Carl2291]

It's not to celebrate them failing to blow parliament, it's to get drunk around a big fire and look at pretty fireworks.

If anything, in today's communities it's more about being upset he failed and hoping it could successfully happen this year instead.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I have no idea what's going on.

 

[RionaaM]

You just reminded me that I need to get a birthday present for my sister. No idea what, though.

 

[Charles Brandon]

It's not to celebrate them failing to blow parliament, it's to get drunk around a big fire and look at pretty fireworks.

If anything, in today's communities it's more about being upset he failed and hoping it could successfully happen this year instead.

well, tbf, it's both. Everything that happens in this country is really just an excuse to drink when you boil it down.

 

[mclem]

I spent some time while I was at university and a few years afterwards organising biggish fireworks displays for me and my friends (Bigger than the usual home box of Standard Fireworks, smaller than a fully-fledged field display). I miss doing that (I still get the occasional trade catalogues), but unfortunately finding a venue is quite a challenge. I need a friend around Oxford with a massive garden!

 

[kavanf1]

I hate this celebration. Fireworks are cool, but every year in the grass across the road from my house, a load of locals build a huge bonfire and after one night of 20 foot high flames, a big black scorched earth eyesore with rubbish scattered everywhere remains for several months. Normally the patch of ground has only returned to normal for a couple of months of the year before the cycle starts again. I don't mind if people want to do it on their private ground, but making a public green area look like shit shouldn't be allowed.

 

[arts&crafts]

I was thinking about this today....because of V for Vendetta.

 

[Charles Brandon]

I hate this celebration. Fireworks are cool, but every year in the grass across the road from my house, a load of locals build a huge bonfire and after one night of 20 foot high flames, a big black scorched earth eyesore with rubbish scattered everywhere remains for several months. Normally the patch of ground has only returned to normal for a couple of months of the year before the cycle starts again. I don't mind if people want to do it on their private ground, but making a public green area look like shit shouldn't be allowed.

I'm sure it isn't allowed technically but hey!

Where is this?

 

[Stallion Dan]

The best part is when Britain pretends it is burning a person alive on the fire, and enjoys it.

 

[Charles Brandon]

The best part is when Britain pretends it is burning a person alive on the fire, and enjoys it.

Not just any person, a catholic!

 

[kavanf1]

I'm sure it isn't allowed technically but hey!

Where is this?

Scotland. The cops don't care, it would be more hassle than it's worth for them to stop people, so they just patrol and keep an eye out for people being thrown into it.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

I have no idea what's going on.

Guy Fawkes Night in the UK on the fifth of November.

Read here if you don't know about it. Basically a dude tried and failed to blow up King James I and British Parliament in 1605, and every year we have fireworks and have a bonfire with a 'Guy' (i.e. a scarecrow) on it. It's kind of meant to remember and be thankful for what he didn't manage to do, but I don't think too many people care about the origin of the event.

EDIT - and probably more relevant these days, V in V for Vendetta and Anonymous (hacker group) use a mask based on Guy Fawkes.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Yeah because it's my birthday that day!!!

 

[Jill Sandwich]

The best part is when Britain pretends it is burning a person alive on the fire, and enjoys it.

What do you mean, 'pretends'?

I think more people would be on the plotters' side these days, what with the country being ran by the Legion of Doom.

 

[freenudemacusers]

I wonder if we'll have one of these stateside when the emails are finally exposed.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Scotland. The cops don't care, it would be more hassle than it's worth for them to stop people, so they just patrol and keep an eye out for people being thrown into it.

I guess in certain parts of Scotland this would bleed into sectarianism and therefore become slightly more er...boisterous than it would be down south.

 

[StayDead]

Oh look, it's condescending internet man!

 

[BGBW]

Reminder that this day is the day we celebrate how much the Catholics suck and that the establishment rules.

Oh and you're allowed to kick anyone wearing a V mask in the groin.

 

[kavanf1]

I guess in certain parts of Scotland this would bleed into sectarianism and therefore become slightly more er...boisterous than it would be down south.

Possibly, thankfully I don't live in one of those areas but it wouldn't surprise me.

Incidentally, do you happen to frequent another (AV/gaming) forum with the same name but with the initials of the forum in front of it?

 

[LegalEagleMike]

Get drunk and play with fire day. Sounds good to me.

 

[Charles Brandon]

Possibly, thankfully I don't live in one of those areas but it wouldn't surprise me.

Incidentally, do you happen to frequent another forum with the same name but with the initials of the forum in front of it?

I do happen to frequent another forum with a similar name but no initials...

edit: No to AV gaming

 

[spuckthew]

I have no idea what's going on.

A slightly crude way to think of it, is that it's like the 4th of July in the USA...except worse and colder. Both have a certain few similar characteristics though.

---

I'm going to the Battersea fireworks with my girlfriend and a mate on Saturday.

 

[kavanf1]

I do happen to frequent another forum with a similar name but no initials...

edit: No to AV gaming

Just a coincidence then!

 

[daveo42]

Thanks for remembering my birthday OP! It's a bit early, but that's really nice of you.

 

[Jag]

It's also my Birthday!

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I wonder if we'll have one of these stateside when the emails are finally exposed.

Another brick.

Will mac ever score again?

 

[Hambulance]

Today

 

[chaobreaker]

Happy 4chan day, British gaffers.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

November 5 has always been and forever will be Doctor Emmett Brown Appreciation Day.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

It's my birthday!

 

[DrFurbs]

No.. It's a week of fucking cheap fireworks going off. How body annoying

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Oh and you're allowed to kick anyone wearing a V mask in the groin.

One time, a guy came into our Halloween store and asked me "dude, do you have those masks? The ones everyone wears?".

 

[Gabriel_Logan]

I might rematch V for Vendetta tonight, it's been years since I've seen it. Does it hold up?

 

[Jag]

Happy birthday to us!

 

[jufonuk]

worked in a Blockbuster during this time of year, lovely teenager decided to throw a fire work or cracker into the shop, it went behind the counter, I ran into the stock room, called the manager up told them what happened. I was shaken up said I wanted to close the store.. they talked me out of it , Jokes on them , don't see any block busters around anymore.