Guy Fawkes

[kevincraig]

When will we stop "celebrating" this dreadful moment in history?

Quite apart from the danger to health and risk of accident and fire this is basically an anti-catholic demonstration.

People should be educated about what lies behind "bonfire night"

I would no more suggest my child takes part in an anti-Semitic, anti Muslim or any other demonstration that belittles peoples faith than encourage them to burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes because of his political and religious beliefs.

Education prevents bigotry of all kinds so can we as a nation please educate and cease these types of "celebration"

I would like to see government action on these issues string with the banning of of firework sales directly to the public. This will prevent so many accidents and unnecessary strain on our emergency services.

From this point we can have meaningful discussion with parents, teachers, religious leaders and law makers.

We are constantly told to be aware of terrorist threats but there is absolutely nothing stopping the stockpiling of what are essentially explosives bought over the counter!!

Please boycott over the counter firework sales next year and let's change society for our children.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I think Bonfire Night has long since moved on from being anything to do with it's original meaning. I don't think anyone celebrates Guy Fawkes anymore.

There are loads of threads every year - admittedly not usually in 'Education' - calling for the sale of fireworks to be banned. If that is what you want to argue for, why not join one of those threads rather than starting one in Education which doesn't have anything to do with education. Usually the grounds are safety, or upsetting people's pets.

You could move your DC to St Peter's in York?

They ban all manifestations, because they think it's in appalling taste to burn an Old Boy

Thanks for the lolz, I needed cheering up.

nope not cancelling november 5th.

Love fireworks, love the fatc it is a weird Bristish thing, love bonfires in the autumn with cold noses and woolly gloves and sparklers.

Don't give 2 hoots about the origin, didn't even remember GF was catholic.

We have missed out this year, for various reasons, so we are planning lots of New Year fireworks instead.

@steppemum I totally agree!

It’s become more of a celebration of entering the “dark half” of the year, along with Halloween. Very far removed from its origins and afaik doesn’t engender any anti-Catholic feeling any longer.
It’s about creating light and celebration before the long winter months.

Maybe we could ban religion as well? You know, Jesus being hung on the cross because of his beliefs and all that?

My children are taught all aspects of bonfire night. It’s part of our history. You can only ensure future generations don’t make the same mistakes again through education. You can’t just obliterate and forget it happened.

I do think sales of fireworks other than sparklers should be banned to the general public though. Some idiots put one up the exhaust pipes of five expensive cars on our road last year. Organised public displays great.

@Zodlebud

Maybe we could ban religion as well? You know, Jesus being hung on the cross because of his beliefs and all that?

My children are taught all aspects of bonfire night. It’s part of our history. You can only ensure future generations don’t make the same mistakes again through education. You can’t just obliterate and forget it happened.

I do think sales of fireworks other than sparklers should be banned to the general public though. Some idiots put one up the exhaust pipes of five expensive cars on our road last year. Organised public displays great.

I'm glad you take the time and initiative to educate your children about Guy Fawkes.

Banning religion would not be in the interests of democracy or free speech and is exactly the opposite point I was making.

As for fireworks, I am not against the use of them for celebration only the retail sale. Organised displays by professionals are amazing and safe. Discarded sparklers are still dangerous if picked up and many children have severe burns from these.

Please be hyper aware if using any flammable item.

Well I’m a Catholic and don’t get offended by it. I was a child in the 70s when kids still did “a penny for the guy” and the guys were burnt on bonfires. But I’m not precious about my Faith, I agree some people from other faiths might not be so tolerant.

However, I do think Bonfire night has moved on (it doesn’t even get called Guy Fawkes night now), and I don’t think that is what’s being celebrated anymore.

I hate fireworks though because of the stress it causes my dog. I would like the use of them to be heavily restricted.

He was hardly just protesting again lack of religious freedom, he was trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

I like fireworks, I have a cat, dog and chicken who are not bothered at all by them. There are far more things that are more worthy of your attention OP.

Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were terrorists. If they had succeeded in blowing up parliament they could have killed over a thousand people. Burning him in effigy is a reminder to be aware of potential terrorist threats.
The tradition has been running for over 400 years in Britain, and generations of kids have had fun making and dressing their guy for the bonfire and showing him for pennies.
The only points I agree with OP are the safety issue of selling dangerous chemical explosives to the public, and the noise trauma to pets and farm animals. Ideally, fireworks would be limited to professional displays.