Guy Fawkes Day

From Ancora Imparo

November 05 is Guy Fawkes Day. British lads and lassies know the ditty: Remember, remember, the fifth of November/Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot/I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason/Should ever be forgot.

The story of Guy Fawkes Day traces back to a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament on the 5th of November, 1605, by means of gunpowder secretly stored in the cellar of the House of Lords. The plot was discovered on November 4th, and the conspirators—including explosives expert Guy Fawkes—were executed. The failed conspiracy is still celebrated with bonfires in England on November 5th. Traditionally, children burn effigies of Guy Fawkes, the fellow who would have overthrown the government of James the first. Also traditionally, children would beg passersby for a penny for the guy; the money was used for fireworks.

Over time, guy came to name any person of grotesque appearance. By the middle of the 19th century, that Briticism had crossed the Atlantic and lost its pejorative sense. Speakers of American English first used guy as a byword for "man" or "fellow"; by the late 20th century, guy had lost its gender-specific sense and was being applied—commonly in the plural form—to members of a group regardless of sex.