Julie’s Blog

Please to Remember the Fifth of November…….

November 12, 2007 on 7:22 am | In Uncategorized |

It’s Veterans’ Day today, commonly known as Remembrance Day and “Poppy Day” in England. The armistice was signed in a poppy field in Flanders so the poppy has become the commemorative symbol for the veterans of both the Great War and WW II. Poppy wreaths are laid on the memorials in local parks and for the equivalent of about a dollar, you can buy a poppy lapel pin. All proceeds go to charity.

November is really quite an interesting month. It starts with All Saints Day on November 1st then the next big day (in England) is Guy Fawkes day, November 5th.

Guido (Guy) Fawkes is infamous for trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Fortunately the plot was foiled and Guy was literally caught with his hands in the gunpowder barrel. His cohorts however escaped to their hideout in the country. The weather was typically British and they rode through pouring rain. The gunpowder they were still carrying got very wet so they put it near the fire to dry…… needless to say the resulting explosion gave them away and they were all caught red handed and probably very red faced. Guy Fawkes night, or “Plot Night” is celebrated with local bonfires and fireworks displays. We eat “plot toffee”, parkin pigs, meat pies, mushy peas, and potatoes roasted in the fire. In the North of England especially the night before is known as Mischief Night and I think it best not to elaborate on that.

In Germany Fasching (carnival) officially starts at exactly 11 minutes past 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month. Committees are formed and plans set in motion. November 11th is also Martinmas which used to be one of the major feast days, since this was the time of year when many people received payments for work accomplished and they could afford to celebrate with friends and family and generally make merry.

Thanksgiving is the major celebration this month, but, like the day itself, I’ll get to that a little later.