Guy Fawkes Night - London - 5 November 2011

Location: North London
Date: 5 November 2011
Guy Fawkes Night

Im very Lucky living so close to one of the best private fireworks displays in London. A small group of people each year get together and put on one of the biggest firework displays in a small school field just outside my living room window in North London. The display usually runs for 20mins or so. In the past Alexandra Palace use to have one of the best displays across London, which I can also see from where I live. Unfortunately Ally Pally (as its also know as) has had its fireworks displays cancelled for the past few years, probably due to health a safety? or due to the traffic jams it use to cause.

History
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was known, became the predominant English state commemoration, but as it carried strong religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-Catholic sentiment. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures, such as the pope. Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes and 5 November gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day. Towns such as Lewes and Guildford were in the 19th century scenes of increasingly violent class-based confrontations, fostering traditions those towns celebrate still, albeit peaceably. In the 1850s changing attitudes eventually resulted in the toning down of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric, and in 1859 the original 1606 legislation was repealed. Eventually, the violence was dealt with, and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable social commemoration, although lacking much of its original focus. The present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised events, centred around a bonfire and extravagant firework displays.
Settlers exported Guy Fawkes Night to overseas colonies, including some in North America, where it was known as Pope Day. Those festivities died out with the onset of the American Revolution, although celebrations continue in some Commonwealth nations. Claims that Guy Fawkes Night was a Protestant replacement for older customs like Samhain are disputed, although another old celebration, Halloween, has lately increased in popularity, and according to some writers, may threaten the continued observance of 5 November.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Guy
• Fawkes
• Night
• London
• England
• UK
• November
• 2011
• Alexandra
• Palace
• best
• private
• fireworks
• displays
• in
• crazybonkers
• Roger
• Fletcher
• Ally
• Pally
• Bonfire

[crazybonkers]

@KillaDaThrilla

Heres the correct name for the camcorder 'Samsung 65x INTELLI-ZOOM' There is some text on the top of the cam which reads Schneider Kreuznach which is the maker of the built in lens. And under that it reads HYPER DIS hope that helps you :)

[KillaDaThrilla]

@crazybonkers Thanks for a quick reply, Well from the fireworks video you recorded I think the camcorder is pretty amazing for a non-HD Camcorder! I know what im getting for christmas now :) Thanks 

[crazybonkers]

@KillaDaThrilla

Thank you for your post. The camcorder is a fairly cheap one, Just over £110. Its a Samsung 65X Optical zoom. Its not true HD which is a shame. The best part of the camcorder is its amazing zoom, good for looking at the moon. The sound is good also. The down sides to the cam is its a little fiddly setting up the focus and aperture, EV and what not, as you cant save your personal settings which is a pain. But for the price its not a bad buy for a first cam.

[crazybonkers]

@LittleMissMakeupNerd

Thank you for posting :) Yes it is a pretty display. I admittedly edited out the boring bits :)

[KillaDaThrilla]

This is such a great video your camera quality and sound was amazing you can hear the echo! what cam corder did you use ??

[LittleMissMakeupNerd]

Wow! What a pretty display! :)