How Is Guy Fawkes Night Celebrated?

**Bugbear** · 13th October 10, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by O'Callaghan

Nobody mentionned bobbing for apples, or toasting sausages in the bonfire on the end of a stick.

ETA: Yes, I know that Americans use marshmallows instead of sausages.

It is very, very common in America to toast hot-dogs, which are a form of sausage, on sticks in camp and bonfires, or sometimes over the stove burner.. And yes we toast marshmallows on sticks, but I have no idea if we invented that.

I have toasted sausages, other than hot-dogs, on sticks in bonfires and they are very good.

**Pleater** · 14th October 10, 02:22 AM

It has always bothered me that, as the Government held a monopoly on gunpowder in the time around 1605, how was it possible for the plotters to lay their hands on 36 barrels of the stuff in the run up to the opening of Parliament?

Did they actually HAVE gunpowder, or just a load of apple barrels that fell off the back of a cart and were sold to the first gull that landed?

Were they encouraged into believing that they could organise an explosion by a sting operation in order for it all to be uncovered at the last minute and so send the country into a frenzy over Catholic plots?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Lallans** · 14th October 10, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

It has always bothered me that, as the Government held a monopoly on gunpowder in the time around 1605, how was it possible for the plotters to lay their hands on 36 barrels of the stuff in the run up to the opening of Parliament?

Did they actually HAVE gunpowder, or just a load of apple barrels that fell off the back of a cart and were sold to the first gull that landed?

Were they encouraged into believing that they could organise an explosion by a sting operation in order for it all to be uncovered at the last minute and so send the country into a frenzy over Catholic plots?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Not to say it was or was not a setup, but black powder is readily made from three common ingredients. On this side of the Atlantic, folks on the frontier often did make their own. First, if necessary, you collect and dry all your pee....

**BoldHighlander** · 4th November 10, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Pleater

It has always bothered me that, as the Government held a monopoly on gunpowder in the time around 1605, how was it possible for the plotters to lay their hands on 36 barrels of the stuff in the run up to the opening of Parliament?

Did they actually HAVE gunpowder, or just a load of apple barrels that fell off the back of a cart and were sold to the first gull that landed?

Were they encouraged into believing that they could organise an explosion by a sting operation in order for it all to be uncovered at the last minute and so send the country into a frenzy over Catholic plots?

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

The simple answer would be theft
...though I'm sure that it could also be had through the black market (e.g. smugglers) for the right price.

As to the rest....

**Schiehallion** · 14th October 10, 04:07 AM

[QUOTE=O'Callaghan;918930]Nobody mentionned bobbing for apples, or toasting sausages in the bonfire on the end of a stick.

Bobbing for apples is not a 5th of November tradition and is more associated with Hallow'een but may have slipped in. I would think it very unlikely as you need to see the fireworks and the bonfire at night, not have ones head in a bucket of water! Mind you it would be useful to have a bucket of water to but out a rougue fire.

**Bugbear** · 14th October 10, 08:12 AM

I was in the Cub Scouts for a couple of years around the age of ten, but I had to leave the Scouts before we learned anything about that... I don't even recall learning how to make a camp fire by rubbing sticks together...

Perhaps that was covered in the 4H activities; my father didn't want my brother and me to be involved in 4H though.

**Arlen** · 14th October 10, 09:32 AM

When I was wee it was very much a local community event. The parents in a specific neighborhood would chip in to get the fireworks and we'd all help get the bonfire built up.
People would bring along bonfire toffee, toffee apples and potatoes to bake in the embers of the bonfire.
The bairns would make a guy and take it around the neighbourhood beforehand to get money for their own wee fireworks.

It's a bit bigger and more city organized now, but still a lot of fun.

It's the one holiday I insisted I still get to celebrate after moving to America. We invite all of our friends over, have a big pot luck and the bonfire and guy and set off fireworks. I always make bonfire toffee and we usually make spiced cider and baked potatoes and corn as well.

If we get a chance, we'll even get everyone over to watch gunpowder, treason and plot beforehand!

**Lallans** · 14th October 10, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

When I was wee it was very much a local community event. The parents in a specific neighborhood would chip in to get the fireworks and we'd all help get the bonfire built up.
People would bring along bonfire toffee, toffee apples and potatoes to bake in the embers of the bonfire.
The bairns would make a guy and take it around the neighbourhood beforehand to get money for their own wee fireworks.

It's a bit bigger and more city organized now, but still a lot of fun.

It's the one holiday I insisted I still get to celebrate after moving to America. We invite all of our friends over, have a big pot luck and the bonfire and guy and set off fireworks. I always make bonfire toffee and we usually make spiced cider and baked potatoes and corn as well.

If we get a chance, we'll even get everyone over to watch gunpowder, treason and plot beforehand!

Do you still play conkers then? I know a Brit expat who would go on and on about how great a game it was. But he never played it himself, here, or organized his kids to do so.