A November to Remember (Part 1 of 4)

Well it's now December and we didn't hold up to our promise of posting often...we didn't even post again in November. Mea Culpa. The good news is that now you get to read a Mega November Issue. Here goes...
On November 5th we celebrated, along with the rest of England "Guy Fawkes Day." It's kind of strange because it is a day dedicated to when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the houses of parliament on November 5th, 1605, but his plan was foiled. He was then hung,drawn and quartered or something worse than that for his attempted terrorism. Every year they celebrate his squashed attempt and a poem was written that is usually recited:
“Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.”
In Cambridge they had a large fireworks show which is what most cities have on that evening, like our 4th of July. Most cities also have a large bonfire that they light. Another tradition is to have an effigy of Guy Fawkes which is paraded and then burned on the bonfire, but many counties (including Cambridgeshire) outlaw this because of obvious reasons. Cambridge at least had the bonfire. If at all interested in learning a little more about it, the movie V for Vendetta is based on these themes. This is one of the biggest British holidays so we are glad we got some good English culture by participating. Then in good English style we stopped at a pub for a pint on our way back to the house. More November to come...