Bonfire Night

First, Happy Birthday to MOTR of Abnormally Normal.

Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!


Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.


By god's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.


And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

The celebration of bonfire night, or Guy Falkes Night is practically unknown of the in the US, and few bonfires will be set tonight.

For those unfamiliar with the story, on November 5, 1605 Guy Falkes was amongst a group of catholic conspirators disappointed that England's King James I was not more lenient towards members of his faith. The conspirators planned to assassinate the king, and install his daughter Elizabeth as monarch, by igniting 36 barrels of gunpowder they secreted in the cellars of the House of Lords.

Supposedly, an anonymous letter was sent warning one of the Lords of the plot. His Lordship notified authorities who found Fawkes guarding the stash of explosives. Fawkes was questioned somewhat forcefully and in little time admitted his part in the plot and expressed his regret that the plan (the gunpowder plot) had failed.

The king admired Fawkes resolution but wanted the names of the co-conspirators, and on November 6, 1605 ordered Fawkes's torture, light at first, then stronger if he remained defiant. By November 9 he broke, giving the names of his associates and the full plan.

Fawke's trial began January 27, 1606, execution set for January 31. Fawkes and his accomplices were ordered hanged until near death, drawn, genitals removed and burned before their eyes, bowels and heart removed, decapitated and dismembered. Fawkes climbed the scaffold, asked for forgiveness and jumped, breaking his neck in the fall. Although dead, his sentence was carried out.

The bonfire tradition began the night the plot was discovered, November 5, 1605. Thankful Londoners lit bonfires to rejoice in the news their King had been spared. The anniversary was celebrated annually. In time effigies of Guy were made and added to the fires. Effigies of the Pope and unpopular politicians are tossed in as well.

Toad

I LOST !!!

What does it matter that I have no interest in sport? It doesn't keep me from wagering on it, as I did Saturday and was beaten badly, by a girl.

Earlier in the week I sent an email to long time blogging buddy, Mom on the Run of Abnormally Normal. Scratch her surface and she bleeds Nebraska red. Although based in Atlanta MOTR and her long suffering husband, Dad on the Run travel each year to a Huskers game or two.

Nebraska is leaving its athletic home, after this year, the Big 12 Conference, , to try its hand amongst the big boys of the Big 10 Conference. Today is the last time conference rivals Missouri and Nebraska will meet on the football field for some time. They have been football rivals since 1892, and I couldn't let the occasion pass unobserved, so I sent this challenge.

"This weekend could be the final Nebraska/Missouri football game for a while. Perhaps we should honor it with a small wager. Say 500,000 golden grickles, or a #2 Ticonderoga pencil with eraser? The loser must also announce the wager, and the result on their blog."

MOTR accepted with alacrity. The teams met Saturday, Missouri lost, I lost, the nation lost. Won't stop me from doing it again though.

My crystal ball is getting cloudy, so MOTR do you want the Grickles or the pencil? Get in touch and I'll post, post haste.

Toad

The Discovery of France

For those who may have forgotten, today is MOTR's 29th birthday, although I understand from her family and friends that she is still carded when she and the very fortunate DOTR are out for an evening. Happy Birthday, and may your dream soon come true!


You may get to know her better here. http://abnormallynormal2007.blogspot.com/

In honor of MOTR's natal day, today is book report day. Our featured book, The Discovery of France by Graham Robb.

I love the French. Their stereotypical surliness and supercilliousness is to be embraced by all freedom loving people. Any culture that refuses to suffer fools willingly is to my mind the bedrock of gracious living.

While I have never been to France,and do not anticipate be going soon, I have had my nose in French related books for the past several weeks. It seems, like most of what we know of history, our own, or anyone else's, most of what we know of French history is mostly wrong.

The Discovery of France, focuses on the unification of France through language. Allegedly, until early in the 20th century only 20% of the population of what we know of as France, spoke French.

Most citizens were unmechanized farmers, whose entire life was spent within 5 miles of home. As in all insular localities, suspicion of outsiders was rampant, and intermarriage amongst few families was rife. To keep outsiders at bay, in each village a local patois developed. Within a region of 50 miles or so, people could understand each other, but few spoke the same language. This was repeated for virtually every 10 square mile area of France. The French language we know was the local patois of Paris, and didn't spread ompletely until near the First World War..

It wasn't until modern communications, and transportation systems were in place that this began to change. There are still more of a varieties of languages in France than cheeses.

I enjoyed it, learn a lot, and hope you do too.

Toad