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Guy Fawkes, 1570-1606 |
Many countries have national commemorations that may seem unusual to non-natives. In Iceland, there's Thorrablot, and Finns celebrate St. Urho's Day. In that context, Guy Fawkes Day -- dedicated to the man who tried to blow up the British House of Lords in 1605 -- doesn't seem so unusual.
Fawkes was a disgruntled (aren't they all?) former ensign in the Royal Navy who intended to kill King James I and most of England's Lords in order to restore Catholic rule to the U.K. Fortunately for James, the plot fizzled when some of the conspirators spilled the beans. Unfortunately for Fawkes, he was arrested and tortured. The authorities had intended to hang him as well, but he jumped from the gallows and broke his own neck before the executioner had the chance to hang, draw, and quarter him. (His co-conspirator wasn't so lucky, and was quartered while still alive.)
Brits will remember Fawkes tonight by burning effigies of him in blazing bonfires and by setting off fireworks throughout the remains of the empire. For all he did, though, Fawkes's greatest legacy may be in giving his name to the term "guy."
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Directory categories:
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes Night, The Gunpowder Plot, English History, UK Parliament |
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Archived under: Assassinations, Conspiracies, Crime, Fireworks, Guy Fawkes Day, History, Holidays, London, United Kingdom |
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