Britain's Bonfire Night, which celebrates the foiling of a Catholic plot to blow up parliament and the King in 1605, has had one new addition to its rogues' gallery of conspirators and priests - Harvey Weinstein.
ADVERTISEMENTBonfire night in Britain is perhaps the closest thing to a national holiday, even though it isn’t one. Every November 5 the night skies around the country are filled with flames from giant bonfires and fireworks displays as the failed bombing of parliament in 1605 by Catholic conspirators is remembered.
#OTD 1605 the HoC journal noted the discovery of Guy Fawkes with 36 barrels of gunpowder under the HoP https://t.co/Rs9fvVSEZh#BonfireNightpic.twitter.com/SswyJZRapl
— Parliament Archives (@UKParlArchives) 5 novembre 2017
Lewes in Sussex has long had one of the most controversial bonfire nights, joyfully burning the Pope in effigy and assorted villans of the day, and Harvey Weinstein made the rogues’ gallery this year alongside gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes and the other usual clerical suspects.
As kids in the slums of Bradford we’d scavenge for factory pulley rope soaked in oil & on #BonfireNight we light & spin it in the dark air.
— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) 4 novembre 2017
BBC mini-series “Gunpowder” starring Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington, himself related to one of the plotters, has just ended, telling the story in a timely way, but it is a story all schoolchildren know more or less, and come out every 5th of November to enjoy, along with their families and roasted chestnuts.
Thousands of people visit A&E every year with fireworks-related injuries.
Be prepared this #BonfireNight – #LearnAndShare this video. pic.twitter.com/v6mNB44TLr— British Red Cross (@BritishRedCross) 3 novembre 2017
As these postings show, bonfire night is not without risks. Every year thousands of people require medical treatment, and many pets are driven half-crazy by the noise, which is also disturbing for war veterans and people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
RT our poster that shows why #SkyLanterns can be devastating to British farmers #BonfireNight#BackBritishFarmingpic.twitter.com/YeDIBwb0XP
— NationalFarmersUnion (@NFUtweets) 5 novembre 2017
#bonfirenight2017 It can be a very tough time for #pets & veterans, please be aware & spread the word.#ptsd#mentalhealth#BonfireNightpic.twitter.com/VtWDm91u5p
— ServiceDogsUK (@ServiceDogsUK) 2 novembre 2017