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Treatment of Guy Fawkes over Time

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  • October 21, 2006 at 9:33 pm #374 Reply
    Phidippides
    Keymaster

    It has confused me why Guy Fawkes Day would be celebrated in England to this day.  Obviously it came about during turbulent times between Catholic and Protestant political tension.  However, it has continued and appears to me to be rather anti-Catholic, even though such religious tension has long since subsided.  Here is the poem that is cited/sung in commemoration of Fawkes' capture:

        Remember, remember the fifth of November,    The gunpowder, treason and plot,    I see of no reason why gunpowder treason    Should ever be forgot.    Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent    To blow up the King and the Parliament.    Three score barrels of powder below,    Poor old England to overthrow:    By God's providence he was catch'd    With a dark lantern and burning match.    Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.    Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!    Hip hip hoorah!

    While those are tame, the rest of the rhyme isn't (which you can see here).I read somewhere last night that the full poem is recited on Guy Fawkes Day (granted, the Wikipedia entry states, “traditionally the…verses were also sung, but they have fallen out of favour because of their content”).  I'm guessing this is merely for historical purposes that any modern recitation would continue.  Still, it has kind of rubbed me the wrong way that the capture and death of a person battling against religious suppression should be celebrated for so long.  The latter verse of the poem/song is evidence to the religious basis and sentiment for the event.

    June 8, 2007 at 10:12 pm #6877 Reply
    skiguy
    Moderator

    Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, Phid.  But wasn't Guy Fawkes a Roman Catholic who was battling FOR religious suppression?I was going to post something else about him (but then I found this).  Could one say he was a terrorist? After all, he wanted to blow up Parliament. The Gunpowder PlotWhat was he trying to stop? The publication of the Bible?

    June 8, 2007 at 10:32 pm #6878 Reply
    Phidippides
    Keymaster

    Guy Fawkes was part of the minority group of Catholics in England at the time.  He was trying to blow up…I believe it was Parliament.  Obviously this was during the time when political and religious power went closely together and therefore a shift in one could lead to a shift in the other.And yes, I suppose that is what the English authorities accused him of being – a kind of terrorist.There's a good site on some of the background here:http://www.gunpowderplot.parliament.uk/adults_plot_cd.htm

    April 21, 2009 at 10:13 pm #6879 Reply
    Hunleyfan
    Participant

    Phidippides,the reason is (and i got this from the history chanels tv show on halloween) the british do guy fawkes week instead of Halloween.

    November 6, 2014 at 4:56 am #6880 Reply
    Phidippides
    Keymaster

    Bump bump.

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