The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in which a bunch of conspirators in England tried to blow stuff up, occurred on this day. It’s celebrated as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, Cracker Night or Plot Night. In any case, explosions and fire are the order the day.
Today’s New York Times has a pretty sad photo of a rugby club viewing a film of a bonfire last year on Guy Fawkes Night. It’s a sorry state of affairs when the mayhem-loving British must discard their customs. But one rogue town will not be moved: “…the Slough Borough Council…decided not to have a bonfire this year. (It will have fireworks, though, along with an Asian Elvis impersonator.)”
Read all about him (Guy Fawkes, not Elvis) in the Mudd.