h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think the entry should be called 'Planning for Fireworks Night' as 'Guy Fawkes Night' is a bit archaic now (though you could mention the origins and the burning of Guys). Also, around my area especially, there are many consecutive nights where fireworks are being let off as Nov 5th is usually quite near the asian divalli festival (where fireworks are also traditionally let off).

(NB. I think it's the divalli festival, it might be one of the others, I can't quite remember the name)

I disagree, we teach so little history in this country that any excuse to pass on information should be embraced! The reason for many consecutive nights of flashes and bangs is usually organisational - weekends are better than weekdays, avoidance of clashing with other big displays etc.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot!

The gunpowder plot is one of the colourful episodes of our past that kids can be excited about - don't take it away.

The Guy Fawkes story can be part of the entry but not the main focus. It's past history, and only British history at that, the rest of the world have fireworks nights too, and the Guide is a global thing. If it's an entry about the Guy Fawkes historic story then it should keep the name, but if it's an entry about organising fireworks parties then the name should be changed to reflect a wider interest, in my opinion. Most fireworks nights have nothing to do with Guy Fawkes any more anyway...

Where are you from Frankie? I would be interested to hear if other countries have the same celebration on 5th November, I wonder why the same date has been picked?

In the UK we tend to have fireworks for Guy Fawkes and New Years, and occasionally for big one-off events. Is it that there is some sort of cultural inheritance that causes the same date to be used or is it (as you suggest it might be) that 5th November is an important date in other cultures by coincidence, but celebrated in the same way.

I'm from East London, which is a very multicultural area. Here there are many hindus who celebrate divalli, which is their new year celebration. It often falls on around the same date as guy fawkes night, and is celebrated by letting off lots of fireworks...

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