Unfortunately, no where I've lived (US) has a Bonfire Night. I've lived in about 9 states...

tif.Slytherin.

I've never heard of Guy Fawkes being celebrated in the US. Shame, that'd be nifty.

Where I live, Australia, we have bonfire nights a lot. But not in celebration, or for any particular reason I can see. We just like fire.

Then again, maybe they do harp back to a day when it was for Guy Fawkes.

Em * Gryffindor

I know when I was little growing up in New Zealand we would celebrate Guy Fawkes (and boy did i hate catherine wheels, i would put my hands over my ears and howl with the dog until they stopped!).However a few years ago the laws were changed regrading fireworks, just like many states in Australia you're not ment to have private fireworks :o(. But they can't take my memories! (although they're welcome to take the catherone wheel memories! :P)
Have fun at Guy Fawkes - hiss at the catherine wheels for me! lol

Kat//Gryffindor

Yeah, I can't remember ever having private fireworks legally. My dad has them, but my dad likes to break the law. I do remember having lots of public Fun and Fireworks nights, though. Where everyone would bring all their flammable garbage and we'd have a giant bonfire.

Em * Gryffindor

Yup!
My friends and I had a bonfire and fireworks last night :)
Will post pics later if I can get my phone and computer to like eachother...

Pixie - Hufflepuff

Oh yeh ps - I'm from the UK and fireworks are legal here for over 18s :P

Pixie - Hufflepuff

Lol, I've noticed. My friend Matt (*points to icon*) is dying to buy some and set them off. They're legal in some parts of the U.S., but not where we live.

And I'd love to see your pics! I forgot my camera, so I won't have any until my friends post theirs.

The only problem with anyone being able to buy them is the horrible things that are done with them sometimes. Someone always has to spoil it.

Rachel #Gryffindor

Wow, I've never even heard of this holiday. Then again, I'm in Texas, so we don't have a huge abundence of Brit-influence. :P I want a Bonfire Night!

Chels//Hufflepuff

I just wrote a paper on anti-Catholicism in England so I'm surrounded with Gunpowder Plot information. ^^ It's a fun celebration, though. (I just got back from the bonfire and it was good times.)

Rachel//Ravenclaw

Sounds like fun to me, hehe. We don't get cool fire holdidays. No fair. :P

Chels//Hufflepuff

Well, they had fireworks and like a carnival thing, so it was a tiny bit like Fourth of July, only with a big bonfire too.

It was funny, because I was with a group of Americans and we're all like hey! It's fireworks! ....but in November. And they're not playing Stars and Stripes Forever. ;D

Rachel//Ravenclaw

How fun!! :D

*giggles* That's so cool. XD

Chels//Hufflepuff

I can't believe we celebrate something so sadistic! *is mildly ashamed*

Hee, yeah, it's kind of an odd holiday. My mom was all excited for me to celebrate it and I was kind of like "Uh....Mom? This isn't really a pro-Catholic holiday, you know, at least not initially."

XD But it's all in good fun now, eh?

I'm in the southeastern U.S. and I don't know of anyplace down here where it's celebrated either. Too bad. Fire's so much fun. :)


Just curious, but where in England are you studying? I had the chance to study for a semester at either Kingston in London or at UC Northhampton, but never did and I'll always regret it. Hope you enjoy your time there!

Lindsey // Slytherin

Heee, yay blowing stuff up. ;D

I'm studying in Norwich at the University of East Anglia. It'd be cool to study in London, too, I think. We spent a month there at the beginning of the program and lived right by University College London. But it's so expensive!

I'm in MO and I've never even heard of Guy Fawkes day, or Bonfire nite. Anyone wanna clarify for me? I'd like to be in the know!

Sure!

Ok, so Guy Fawkes was a Catholic during the reign of James I. On November 5, 1605 he was found in a cellar below the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder. Fawkes was really just the fall guy in the conspiracy, which was masterminded by a young Catholic named Robert Catesby. There were 13 conspirators in total, and they had plotted to blow up the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament, thereby killing King James, his family, and most of the government. However, a Catholic nobleman named Lord Monteagle was tipped off to the plot (probably by his brother-in-law, Francis Tresham, who was one of the conspirators but was having second thoughts). Monteagle got a letter warning him to stay away from the opening of Parliament. He showed the letter to James' chief minister and the cellar beneath the Lords was searched. They found Fawkes and the gunpowder, arrested him, and then tracked down the rest of the conspirators. Those who survived the shoot out and the Tower were tried, found guilty and executed.

So, to celebrate the fact that Parliament didn't get blown up, the English burn Guy Fawkes in effigy every year and play with fireworks. ^^

Rachel//Ravenclaw

OOoohh. Okay, gotcha, and total snaps for a Ravenclaw to answer my question! That totally made me smile! ^_^ Thanks~B - Hufflepuff

My pleasure. ^^

I do try to live up to my house's reputation. ;D Also, this is my favorite period of history, so I read a lot about it.

Rachel//Ravenclaw

Well, you are doing a marvelous job, m'dear! keep up the good work!

~B - Hufflepuff