Remember, remember, the Fifth of November...

[Rum]

There are a hell of a lot of people over here who couldn't tell you what the 4th of July represented if you put a gun to their head. Or what the Civil War was about, or who our allies were in WWII. They simply don't teach it any longer. I remember my daughter coming home from school in about the 6th grade, saying "I'm sure glad we won the Civil War".

You live in Florida, child, we were the third state to secede.

Yes, I know that. But, we're stupid Merkins. We're not expected to know. I would think the much smarter Brits would know what their 400 year old holidays are based on ....

See above. No holiday. Just big fires and bangers in the dark. They very often don't even bother with the effigy (known as the 'Guy') these days.

[Coito ergo sum]

Well, I'm using the word holiday in the 'merkin sense - which is just a day of celebration or commemoration. In the Merkin sense, it's a holiday, even if there is no time off. Like Columbus Day is here, even though hardly anybody gets the day off anymore.

[Thinking Aloud]

See above. No holiday. Just big fires and bangers in the dark. They very often don't even bother with the effigy (known as the 'Guy') these days.

The effigy here was uncomfortably realistic as it burned this year. (See pic in the other thread.)

[DaveD]

I went right off the whole idea of bonfires and fireworks once I realised they weren't in celebration of my birthday after all.

[Tyrannical]

21st of September ranks up there too.......

[rachelbean]

All I have to say is:

[Bella Fortuna]

No need to go all pugly on us!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

All I have to say is:

"Chocolohics Anonymous" poster dog.

[Rum]

10.30 and poor Molly has just about stopped trembling.

[Audley Strange]

The Bonfires are older than the gunpowder plot, older by far. Somehow it became fashionable (when such fires were allowed to happen) to throw public figures on them, some kind of sympathetic magic I guess, then with Fawkes I guess it stuck for some reason. I'm sure I used to know the ins and outs of it, but I like the fires. The fireworks are a pain in the arse though, I'll grant you that.

[DaveD]

The fireworks are a pain in the arse though

You probably need to read the instructions on the box more carefully.

[laklak]

There's NO business like SHOW business

[Gawdzilla Sama]

That was weird. Or Miami.

[Audley Strange]

The fireworks are a pain in the arse though

You probably need to read the instructions on the box more carefully.

Touché.

[Sean Hayden]

That was definitely weird, wherever it occurred.