Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Growing up as young lad in England one of my favorite days of the year was November 5th, Guy Fawkes day. Who the heck is Guy Fawkes you ask? Well, the historic origins of Guy Fawkes dates back to the conflict between virtually outlawed Catholics and the Protestant establishment of the 16th and early 17th century. On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of Catholic conspirators were captured in the act of trying to blow up Parliament with barrels of gunpowder while then Protestant King James I was seated in the house. Needless to say, Guy Fawkes life was not spared. That act of treason was the catalyst for the annual tradition of Guy Fawkes Day, a day when young children would build a straw effigy of Fawkes, tote him around in a wheel barrow asking a penny for the Guy. We would then use the collected money to buy fire works to set off later that night at a huge bonfire where we would eventually toss our stuffed effigy. Born from that tradition was aged British adage, Remember, Remember, the 5th of November.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.


Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;


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