Can anyone remember when children used to take a guy fawkes to peoples doors

As an American with some of my gr grandparents from England I have read a little about Guy Fawkes day but do not know as much as I would like to, I just most know you have fireworks or bonfires on that day. What exactly is it honoring,I ask as an ignorant American.

Hi jugs, When I was young, us local kids would make a guy and we all ask for penny fot the guy, as everyone knew us, we used to make good money, theen when bonfire night came, it was arganized by the council and all food was free and the guys would be put right on the of the bonfire, oh what fun when had, I don't think kids today have as much fun as we did. Tamara

I've only once had kids bring one to the door. I remember the man next door asking the kids to hold on whilst he fetched the 'penny'. He gave them the penny, took the guy and closed the door. They knocked and asked for the guy back but he said that he'd given them the penny FOR the guy so, now it was his. His wife made him give it back. They usually sit outside the supermarkets round here and pester people. Since they aren't allowed to buy fireworks now, most of them just spend it on sweets.... and no, I never give them anything as they really dont make any effort - its just a carrier bag with a face drawn on stuffed full of newspapers tied to a jumper usually.

yes its unfortunate that you do not see this endeavour anymore form children .. however in this day it is too dangerous not only incase they meet someone perverted but also fireworks are so dangerous now i would not risk any child buying them .. but having said that in my youth my friends and I always hang out near the tube station and asking "penny for the guy"

... i don't know this and have not experience this in my entire life. Is this a normal practice in your area? please tell me more about it. I am just curious how this is done and how people are handling or reacting to this. thanks!

hmm interesting, I don't remember that in happening in my culture. Here in the states also fireworks are not allowed for minors.

well since I am in canada no, lol we don't have that here.

I live in Australia and I have not experienced Guy Fawkes here. It sounds like a fun tradition which I’m sure my daughter would love but I’m afraid she would be the only one doing it so it may not wok here. It sounds as though your kids did well though!

i haven't seen that for years,i used to see it a lot when i was younger,but be the time i reached about 10 no one did it any more

Hi Jugs, I heard the Guy fawkes for the first time and have much interest in the traditional celebration in England. I can imagine how hilarity and lively on November 5th, I think it becomes a festival nowaday and fewer young will know the history of the date. It is a memoriable date to celebrate the traitor are being arrested and killed. One night a year comes alive as colour fireworkds explode in the night sky and smoke from giant bonfires floats across the land. All the noice and fires are made to remember the contry's greatest traitor named Guy Fawkes. It is really special to use the traitor's name as the celebration name. In China, there are only celebration for the good guy, saying Dragon boat festival to commemorate Quyuan, a great poet and pariot in the histroy, but we never named Qingkuai, a traitor to name the celebration date. As we did not celebrate the guy fawkes here, I can not answer your questions. Have a nice day and happy mylotting.

I remember when I was younger people would do this but it didn't happen so much as I got older. We would make a guy for the school bonfire and we would make one at home for our bonfire. I love bonfire night, keeping warm by the bonfire watching the fireworks, tucking into hotdogs, and mushy peas with mint sauce mmmm! I have moved to Eastern Europe and they don't celebrate it here, there are no fireworks in the shops. I know my family back home in the UK will be having a fire and fireworks though, I can smell the smoke now. Hehe I love traditions like these that get the family together.