Burn baby burn

This year I am a international student mentor at my University which basically means ramming as many cultural experience's down the throats of unsuspecting foreigners. Our first meeting was at the pub (assez anglais) but then I started to run out of inspiration and we ended up at Wagamama's for those traditional English stirfrys ... cough. So obviously when Guy Fawkes night came around it was a great opportunity for me to do something typically English with my group of mentees. Everyone is told the story of how Guy Fawkes, leader of the Gunpowder Plot, (an elaborate attempt to blow up Parliament and assassinate the Royal Family in the 1600's) was caught and burnt alive on a bonfire. Then every year on the 5Th of November we celebrate with firework displays, toffee apples and a bonfire with an effigy of Mr Fawkes. But I was a bit stumped when Louise (my Dane) asked me what we actually celebrate, the fact that he didn't blow up Parliament and the King was saved or the fact he almost succeeded ... I was totally stumped, so I looked it up! Apparently until 1859 it was compulsory to celebrate the fact our King had been saved, a mini English thanksgiving and since the law was abolished tradition has just taken over. Anyway enough of the history lesson, last night the fireworks were AMAZING and can't wait for the second round at the Uni firework display on Saturday.