November 5th is Guy Fawkes day, a British holiday based on the ritual execution and dismemberment of a religious extremest caught trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. The story says Fawkes and a dozen other conspirators were unhappy with how the monarchy and government were treating Catholics. In an attempt to kill those who were making life difficult for Catholics, the group placed gunpowder in the House of Parliament's basement.
There's some disagreement about if Fawkes and friends were really going to go through with their plot, or if it would have worked, but regardless, Fawkes was caught alone in the basement with the gunpowder, and executed.
Somehow, and this is the bit I don't really understand, this odd slice of British history has turned into an annual event called Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. It is the perfect holiday for my younger brother- fireworks are sold throughout the city and for the whole weekend everyone goes nuts lighting them off. I heard explosions during class, on my way to my flat, while I was eating dinner, and randomly for three nights. There are larger firework displays arranged in a few areas across the city. For more info on the holiday, the SU London Director suggested checking out this website: http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php.
