Another crazed, religiously inspired, leftover celebration. Guy Fawkes was a Catholic man who wanted to over-throw the King. The King was a Protestant who knew the importance of instilling religious fear in his servants . As the King survived an attempt on his life in the 1605 plot, it was thought that the Protestant version of 'god' was good and puritanical ministers in government effectively made it a day of compulsory worship. There is even the possibility that the whole 'plot' was an exercise in spin, designed to inflame anti-Catholic feelings. ( here ) In 1606, to avoid being hung, drawn and publicly disemboweled for his 'crime', Guy Fawkes jumped from
the scaffold and broke his own neck, aged 35.
By the 1670s the enforced anti-Catholic celebrations had evolved and the 'trendy' (easily coerced) people of the country were burning effigies of the Pope, which often contained live cats for dramatic effect. A screaming pope-doll being visually memorable. James II banned the burning of Popey figures because it offended his religious over-sensibilities. In 1688, James II was deposed by William of Orange. The Dutchman landed (on the 5th Nov, by coincidence) in the country and decided to celebrate his birthday (4th Nov) by taking over the crown and continuing the religious bonfire theme. Ruled by Europe?
Over hundreds of years, the day became linked to petty arguments over whose fictional god was better, begging, riots and drinking. Kings and Queens, governments and religions waxed, waned and evolved but a mish-mash of 'traditions' continued through the centuries. We presently have a sanitized celebration of anarchy, dark evils and light. Bonfire Night. Bang. 'oooooo', 'aaaaahhhhh', 'whizzzz'.
Before all that religious nonsense, of course, our early human ancestors, who didn't understand their world, would have been burning fires, celebrating darkness, spirits and hoping for the return of spring. At the mercy of nature and the seasons of the planet. Early November (or celestial equivalent) would have been the most harsh time of the year and fires, feasts, offerings and rituals would have been a big part of their existence in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Autumn Equinox. Spring forth Samhain, Halloween, Bonfire night, Diwali, Thanksgiving in America and any number of other pseudo-religious celebrations around the world at this time of year.
Links for more info. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night
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