Me and Guy Fawkes

Fun weird fact about me: 

For the TL;DR crowd: I wanted to go to a pub but now I’m not.

The full story:

I love the British holiday known as Guy Fawkes Day. I mean, maybe it isn’t that weird as I am approx 75% English (yes, English, not British, it’s higher if you also count Scotland!). But all my ancestors came here in 1600s, so it’s not a recent connection to England for me. 

But then again! … maybe the reason is that the original Guy Fawkes’ attempt to blow up parliament in 1605 was a recent memory for my English ancestors.

SIDE NOTE: Sean and I’s very first date was him joining me on an excursion to a variety of British pubs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. I was writing an article for a ‘zine (it’s a paper thing from the mid-’90s, kids, look it up) reviewing various local bars, with the hook that we were publishing it near Guy Fawkes Day, November 5.

***Remember remember the 5th of November!***

ANYWAY, so in my current attempt to explore west central Florida, I wanted to go to a British Pub about 45 minutes away that is recognizing Guy Fawkes Day tonight with a traditional bonfire.  

But it’s been raining all day, and is 75% chance of rain or better into the night. And I am too old for driving in rain solo especially after a couple hard ciders.

*sigh*

Who is Guy Fawkes and why is he more relevant than ever? 

In 1605, he was a Catholic and an explosives expert, who joined the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to assassinate the Protestant King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. He was caught before anything could be blown up, he was tortured, and executed. He has long been considered an example of terrorism.

AND YET, over time, he’s become a symbol of anti-authoritarianism. Through the graphic novel and film V for Vendetta, the stylized Guy Fawkes mask transformed from a symbol of a failed Catholic plotter into a global icon of anti-establishment protest, hacktivist groups (like Anonymous), and anti-government resistance movements.

Seems relevant the week of this election and the next three months of bullshit we’re about to endure in the US. 

One of many variations of a Guy Fawkes poem popular in the UK over the centuries — this is a shorter one without Catholic insults: 

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow.

By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys,
God save the King!

(As for that last line, I say: OR NOT) 

All that… but honestly, I’m also sad about not having sticky toffee pudding tonight.