**WARNING: HERITAGE ALERT** Here we go AGAIN with my crazy obsession with all things related to traditions and our ancestry. As I have said before on this blog, David's heritage is part British (according to my research). So why would we let a British holiday/celebration pass by without taking part???
Guy Fawkes Night is a celebration originally commemorated by British Protestants on November 5th of each year. It's history is long, and I encourage you to read the full story here as it is just too long for our blog ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night ). Although it started as an anti-Catholic celebration, for us it is just a fun way to commemorate something that David's ancestors just may have taken part in many years ago! When we have kids, we think it will be a great day to explain to them the difference between Protestantism and Catholicism, and what beliefs of ours make us Protestant.
Given that Guy Fawkes Night is often called "Bonfire Night," obviously a bonfire is a necessity. Since we just had one several days earlier for Halloween, we still had our fire pit in place and ready to go. SO, once again, out came the hot dogs to roast, the smores to make, and the fire to burn! It was cold cold cold out last night, so we bundled up and huddled as closely to the fire as we could. Good thing my husband is such an EXCELLENT fire-maker! :)
It is also customary on this night to light candles in your windows if you are Protestant. So, of course, we did! I'm quite certain that all the cars driving down our street simply thought we were nuts that had early Christmas candles burning and were having a random bonfire. But that doesn't matter, because WE knew what we were doing! :) This is just the candle in one of our front windows. Couldn't seem to get a good picture of it, either with OR without the flash, but anyway...
Not only do David and I like to follow along with these old traditions, but we like to make our own! So we decided each Guy Fawkes Night/November 5th would include disposing of our Halloween pumpkin by smashing it. So I did it last night with a metal bat while David took pictures. I was surprised how hard it was to smash - it was one tough gourd!
I wouldn't be shocked if we were the only people around last night celebrating Guy Fawkes Night. But it doesn't matter, as long as we had fun! And we did! :)
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