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Happy Guy Fawkes Day!
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Oh, too much food in this post for right before lunch. Since I did the Duke of York words, may I add
Please to remember the 5th of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason, the 5th of November
Should ever be forgot.
Did I get that right?
Here in Michigan, Diwali is more common than Guy Fawkes as far as public celebrations. I've been invited to Diwali celebrations in homes, and the food is absolutely delectable too. But I'm a big fan of potatoes roasted in an outdoor fire. Victorian potluck anyone?
Paula wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Mmmm.... I am so hungry now!!! ;-p"
Me, too! Plus, I'm having fun trying to picture a bonfire-shaped chocolate cake. My mental image looks more like a volcano than a bonfire, tho..."
I'm sure there may be an occasion for a volcano cake - Vesuvius perhaps?
Kathryn wrote: "Mmmm.... I am so hungry now!!! ;-p"
Me, too! Plus, I'm having fun trying to picture a bonfire-shaped chocolate cake. My mental image looks more like a volcano than a bonfire, though :)
Paula wrote: "Jacket potatoes? What are those?"
We often did cook them in foil when I was young - in the bonfire! Can you imagine health and safety with that! And not just cheese but lots of butter, too. We always went for the cheap alternatives: we used to have potato soup as well! I know people who go for the naughty, sweet options of marshmallows or bananas baked with chocolate inside. My dream was always the bonfire shaped chocolate cake - with marzipan Guy - covered in chocolate flakes. In England you can generally guarantee that it's cold by November the 5th (not too bad this year though) so you really need things that are warming.
I love baked potatoes, or anything potato-related, actually, but don't care much for cheese (sacriligous, considering I'm from Wisconsin, the dairy state!).
Any other food traditions related to Guy Fawkes' Day? This is a totally new holiday to me, I'm afraid to admit, so am loving all the tidbits that are being shared!
Paula wrote: "Jacket potatoes? What are those?"Something I became fond of after being in England! What we call baked potatoes on this side of the pond, Paula, but smothered in lots of cheese (and not done in foil). In fact, I'm having one for lunch today!
Gabriele, I SO understand what you mean about feeling "at home" in England. I felt homesick for it before I ever went there and ever since I traveled there (in 2007) I've been longing to go back!!!Maggie, I have heard of Diwali but have never seen it celebrated; what a beautiful addition to the Bonfire Night in terms of lighting up the night sky!
Annette, I loved hearing about your family celebrations and think it is just so adorable that you have hedgehogs in your yard (I love hedgehogs but we don't have any here in California!)
I have young children so we still celebrate at home. We have lots of family around for hot soup, jacket potatoes and sausages. My husband builds a bonfire from all the trees he's pruned and the boys love to help, (having checked for hedgehogs first!) Then we light all the fireworks, usually with an intermission for my mother-in-laws chocolate cake. My youngest still gets a little worried at the big bangs and watches some of it from the window!
Bonfires were traditionally lit on the ancient festival of Samhain (Hallowe'en) to ward of evil spirits but it shifted to November 5th following the gun powder plot. Fireworks are a later addition. As an infant teacher I always found this festival a little tricky to teach as its based on religious schisms.
I live in quite a multicultural neighbourhood which includes many Indian people, around the same time as Bonfire Night they celebrate Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light) which is really nice. Lots of fireworks are set off and lots of lights are lit in windows etc. I prefer this to Bonfire Night!
Boof wrote: "Everyman, that is probably true. Health and safety (as well as political correctness) has gone barmy over here! We can't do anything anymore."We're catching up with you fast.
Boof, I walked along part of the city wall in York once, so I was imagining seeing the festivities from there through your enticing description. Thanks!And, Kathryn, I absolutely feel as you do that I should have been (or was in a previous incarnation) British! Perhaps through all the books I had read, particularly Hardy's description of the countryside, I felt at "home" the moment I first set foot on English soil. I recognized the smell of peat fires that I had never before encountered.
Everyman, that is probably true. Health and safety (as well as political correctness) has gone barmy over here! We can't do anything anymore.
Boof wrote: "Thank you! That's so sweet that you knew! Yes, tonight is bonfire night - it's great (although it was a lot more magical when I was a kid, I must admit). People up and down the country have bonfire..."But I read that several towns town are having to put on virtual bonfires, on big screens, because they can't get permission to light actual bonfires.
Ah, ain't bureaucracy wonderful!
Oooo, thanks for the gorgeous descriptions, Boof! I absolutely love-love-love that you and your husband get to watch the celebration from your neighborhood CASTLE! (Gosh, part of me really thinks I was supposed to be born British!) I didn't know that "Return of the Native" or "Miss Read" books feature Guy Fawkes Day, but that'll be something to look forward to. The only depiction I've read in literature is from a "chick-lit" (but very good chick-lit, IMO!) The Little Lady Agency and I loved reading about it. I had no idea it was such a big holiday "across the pond." Then, of course, there is the movie "V for Vendetta" which is how I found out about the holiday in the first place!Anyway, thanks again for the mouthwatering descriptions, and I hope you enjoyed every moment of the evening! :-)
Lauren wrote: "Not celebrating this year. Too ill! It's a great celebration though - love the fireworks too."
Oh no, Lauren. Hope you feel better soon ☺
Boof wrote: Laurele, The Return of the Native ? I haven't read that one but I didn't know it was about bonfire night.That's where it begins.
From Wikipedia:
"The novel takes place entirely in the environs of Egdon Heath, and, with the exception of the epilogue, Aftercourses, covers exactly a year and a day. The narrative begins on the evening of Guy Fawkes Night as Diggory Venn drives slowly across the heath, carrying a hidden passenger in the back of his van. When darkness falls, the country folk light bonfires on the surrounding hills, emphasizing - not for the last time - the pagan spirit of the heath and its denizens."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_...
It's a wonderful book! I love Diggory.
Laurele wrote: "This makes me want to get out my Miss Read books again. She writes of such memorable Guy Fawkes celebrations, especially through the eyes of the school children. And of course there's The Return of..."
Laurele, The Return of the Native ? I haven't read that one but I didn't know it was about bonfire night.
Thank you! That's so sweet that you knew! Yes, tonight is bonfire night - it's great (although it was a lot more magical when I was a kid, I must admit). People up and down the country have bonfires in their gardens or go to organised events and fireworks are a big part of it. I have seen some awesome displays over the years. We also have food like parkin (which is like a sort of ginger cake that we only really eat on bonfire night) and home-made bonfire toffee (which is so delicious!). I can remember having so much fun when I was little, I used to look forward to it as much as christmas. It's still a really nice night out (the main events are usually held on a weekend these days though). On top of the bonfires there is usually a home-made guy (an effegy of Guy Fawkes) thrown on top to burn, baby, burn!
Me and my hubby are about to walk up to the castle which is 10 mins from our house and stand on top of the hill and watch all the fireworks going on in our town below. We're taking a flask of hot chocolate up there.
Thank you for asking about it Kathryn, I love that you are interested ☺
This makes me want to get out my Miss Read books again. She writes of such memorable Guy Fawkes celebrations, especially through the eyes of the school children. And of course there's The Return of the Native.
