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

I'm from America and we don't celebrate it here. For that matter, what exactly is Boxing Day? I know that traditionally the masters and servants of the house switch places, but as that isn't really applicable to the modern world at large, what do people do nowadays? And what are the origins of both holidays?

Bonefire night celebrates the infamous figure, (Guy Fawkes)who, in 1605, had the notion of blowing up the houses of parliament whilst the king was in it. Rather than be applauded for his efficiency (two birds, one stone etc?) he is remembered as an effigy which is burnt atop a pyre on a yearly basis. With all fireworks going off.

Retrospectively, the big flaw in Mr Fawks's secret plan was that people found out about it. And he would've gotten away with it if it hadn't've bin for that pesky Lord Monteagle.

Boxing Day traditionally celebrates the eating of turkey sandwiches, turkey curry, turkey vol-au-vents, turkey jerky, and turkey crumble.

Sort of like Thanksgiving then.

Did Fawkes give any particular reason for trying to assinate the King?

Yeah, but we're not very thankful for the turkey crumble.

Guy Fawkes was pissed off at the king for not going easy on catholics (him being one, apparently), so he decided to vent his frustrations using the time-honoured methods of religious people everywhere and kill everybody that didn't agree with him.

Apparently, handing out pamphlets and knocking on doors didn't sit well with him, and he happened to have a job lot of Acme Gunpowder some bloke called Wong had sold him down the pub, so it was a recipe for disaster really . . .

These things happen.

According to the story didn't it turn out that the gunpowder in question might not have been lightable as well? I seem to remember a history program that mentioned the incident and how the powder may have been too old to catch flame or something. The movie "V for Vendetta" starred a character who dressed up as Mr. Fawkes as I remember. He was a bit more successful than his predecessor in the attempt if I remember the ending correctly.

Boxing day comes from boxing up all the stuff left over from Christmas Day festivities and giving it to the poor. Doesn't happen anymore, unfortunately, but also the day when you see the relatives who couldn't do Christmas. It's the feast of St Steven, who was meant to be particularly charitable, I think... I've always prefered it to Christmas.

~*~didn't it turn out that the gunpowder in question might not have been lightable as well? I seem to remember a history program that mentioned the incident and how the powder may have been too old to catch flame or something.~*~

Preposturous. If the gunpowder wouldn't light it had nothing to do with its age.

I agree! We have some old flares that we have been assured that they will work! Now getting the guts up to see is another matter These things are like 30 years old! Maybe one night we'll just go crazy!

That's what Guy Fawkes said.

Humm!!! In that case maybe I'll do it away from buildings and kings!! Not that I was planning to do it anywhere near these things!

Guy Fawkes actually didn't give a toss about the catholic oppression and what not, he was a hired mercenary who was used as a scape goat.

And boxing day was not "boxing and giving to charity", it was when the presents used to be opened.

Who waits till Boxing Day? It's hard enough staying in bed till after 6 when there's prezzies to be dissapointed with!

Manostraw strike up a rather good old point there!!!

All I want for christmas is a little peace in the world and some quiet reflection for a change.


And a pogo stick.

I was just repeating what they told me in sunday school, always dodgy, I'm aware. Just looked it up in the OED, and it apparently stems from the xmas hamper given to tradespeople, but I always take their definitions with a pinch of salt.

Presents were generally bestowed throughout the whole of the twelve days, until the 17th Century. And in my defence, they would have done it anyway, as all table scraps from feasts were boxed up and given as alms. And to argue for your etymology, surely opening presents would be a kind of un-boxing day as that is what unwrapping entails.

that's true. We should call it unboxing day. And according to wikipedia (so it must be true), the burning of Guy Fawkes started 200 years after the gunpowder plot. Before that it was burning an effigy of the Pope. Do you think we could persuade traditionalists to start it up again?

In the name of equality and fairness, should the rapidly oxidising effigies be limited to his Pontifficatingness, or should we include all religious leaders and godly representatives whatever their faith? Wouldn't want to be accused of favouritism now would we?

Also:
"Wikipedia" = website that all Google queries are redirected to.

To be fair, I'd rather go with my sunday school teacher than the people who write wikipedia. No offence.

Can we put live dogs in the effigies? To make them scream? They used to do it with cats, but I like cats.