To wonder why we never see any Penny for the Guys anymore?

[Ceridwen83]

I'm mid 40s. I'm remembering when I was a kid and into my teens.

l used to see tons around this time of year! Kids with "guys" and a hat open next to it for donations etc. They were really common.

I was just struggling to remember the last time I actually saw one! 🤔

Are they still a thing?

You need to go to Lewes

I don’t ss that as being any different to allowing children to go begging when they trick or treat.

but also because perhaps the idea of dragging the effigy of a Catholic freedom fighter through the streets and burning him is a bit…off.

I've seen simulation of explosion would have taken out a huge chunk of London - plus his motivation was not just anti-Protestant animosity but also intense anti-Scottish hatred- he hated the scots and the scottish King sat on the English throne.

The reason he burnt and not plots leaders partly he was in the room as powder expert and partly because he cheated the executioner - he jumped from* *the gallows ladder breaking his neck so avoided being drawn and quartered.

Notwithstanding the safety and religious aspects of 'Penny for the Guy', I do think it is a shame that yet another British tradition is disappearing - it was something quirky and unique. I despise Hallowe'en - encouraging children to go and disturb neighbours, begging for sweets and sometimes threatening them if they don't get what they want.

I recall many years ago, my next door neighbour had a lodger called Guy who gamely let us wheel him around. I should add, that we didn’t burn him.

Last time I saw one in my town was the early eighties.

Amazing. You learn something new every day. Thanks!

No I don't have children.

It was a huge thing in Manchester when I was a kid. I'm glad it has declined. I always thought it was seriously fucked up to spend time making an effigy to burn and found the idea really upsetting as a little kid.

Commercialism! There’s no money in children fashioning a Guy from Grandad’s long johns and his demob jacket, to be pulled around on a rickety wagon made of bits and pieces found lying about.

In the ‘60s, Bonfire Night was a major celebration in my little town (Oxfordshire). However, I think that even then nobody gave much of a damn about whom we were burning or why, etc.
The big party every year was arranged in our tiny Catholic parish, as everyone then was in some way socially connected through a school or a charity or whatnot, and held in the garden of a large, prominent family (whose wonderful, chaotic house, come to think of it, was coeval with Mr Fawkes’ life)

It was exactly the Bonfire Night bash we see illustrated in an aspirational way in the likes of Country Living magazine today, with baked spuds roasted in foil, mulled cider, hot chocolate, beans, and a stew, random bits of furniture to smash up, and all the rest of the fantasy party. It was always utter bliss.
Sparklers! Dads seeing to the bonfire, the Catherine Wheels (another delightful reminder of gruesome death for your faith) and the rockets, and always that crystal cold air where you’d really believe the stars were made of diamonds, when your Dad insisted that this was so.
Damn; happy days! 🔥🍁🍂

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I've enjoyed reading your memories of this!

Now I'm off to have a toffee apple 😂

They haven't been cancelled. Yet.

Sadly, the very commercialised Halloween has taken over. We used to spend ages making a Guy Fawkes, then borrow a pram to wheel it round in. We didn't knock on doors though, just it up and down the main street and round the village. Also spent weeks dragging stuff to the park to build the bonfire. Neighbours organised food for bonfire night and there was always parkin and treacle toffee. This was in the 60s/70s. I miss it.

That sounds great, Millytante.

I remember a big bonfire party at my school, in the grounds, when I was about thirteen.

We had allotments behind our back garden, some of which were not used and for a few years, my cousin's husband used to organise a Guy Fawkes party there with big bonfire and lots of fireworks. It was great.

One year when I was ten, cousin and husband brought their dog and gave me the lead. I loved their dog very much. often played with him and took him for walks. He pulled the lead out of my hand and ran off! Unfortunately he was never seen again despite them searching, making enquiries, etc.

I got the blame for letting him go, it was brought up for years in conversation, especially by my mother. You'd think they'd realise I couldn't hang onto the lead - and who takes a dog to a firework party anyway?

My in-laws had good bonfires.

At my house we had a bonfire and fireworks occasionally when my son was small. His birthday is end of October (he's just had his 47th), usually during half term, and one year we had the party a few days later, combined with apple bobbing, scary mask making and bonfire. I was nervous about the kids and fireworks but my husband said I had nothing to worry about, he'd make sure everything was safe. I can clearly remember him picking up a lit firework off the gras and throwing it, he also put some fuel on the bonfire. Some safety! However it was a good party and nobody got hurt.

I never knew anyone who did 'penny for the Guy', though would see kids occasionally, near shops, with their Guys and collecting tin. Mum looked down on that sort of thing (and many other things).

Burning someone in effigy does not appeal to me but as a child I didn't think of it like that.

Gosh this brings back memories from the early 70s. We spent Hours and hours getting out guy to look the part…we’d prop him up against a wall and tie a string to his hand, and whenever someone gave us money we’d signal for the stringer who was behind the wall to pull it so the guy waved as a thank you. We used to make quite a bit of money over the course of the week. Those were the days 🤣

I'm 42, and we used to make a guy as a village guide troop for our school bonfire but we never did the begging for pennies thing. I always thought that was much older.

Our school firework display now doesn't have a bonfire to burn one on anyway. Bonfires seem out of favour, I can't remember the last time I saw one at a display. Maybe something to do with the clean air acts, maybe they just burn too long to be practical, maybe insurance isn't keen close to the school buildings?

Or just ‘empathy for a ‘they…empathy for a they’

I remember them! A few children in my village were still making them in the early 90s. I love bonfire night and am so disappointed it’s being usurped by Hallowe’en.

Because it’s begging and a penny won’t get you anything. And nobody carries any cash.

Also effigies are considered a bit gross nowadays. We have more sympathy for Catholics.