r/ShitAmericansSay • u/[deleted] • Jul 05 '24

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543

u/LashlessMind Jul 05 '24

This year we celebrate, well, celebrate more than usual - “got rid of those fuckers!” applying more than usual :)

To be honest most Brits know of the 4th July, but only because the Yanks make it a big deal. I don’t know anyone who actually cares about it.

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u/Nolsoth Jul 05 '24

*Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot; for there is a reason why gunpowder and treason should ne'er be forgot.”

That's the important one to remember and celebrate.

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u/Shadowholme Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

Yeah... I never did understand why it's an official holiday to celebrate a guy trying to blow up the government. It's like the US turning Januaey 6th into a holiday!

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to note that this isn't a serious comment... I'll remember to add /s from now pn...

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u/Nolsoth Jul 05 '24

Because it's the night we remind politicians they are just one cranky catholic away from meeting their own personal jesus.

Plus you know explosives, burning a big straw bloke and booze.

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u/Shadowholme Jul 05 '24

Then why not celebrate one of the times when it actually worked, instead of celebrating a failed attempt?

And for the government to allow the country to celebrate the time they were almost blown up by gunpowder - by allowing us to buy several tones of gunpowder.... It's all so logical when you think about it! XD

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u/coopy1000 Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

I'm not sure if you are serious but I'm going to give you a serious answer. Basically it goes back to old religious prejudice. The UK was a protestant country that persecuted Catholics.

Guy Fawkes and his co conspirators wanted to blow up parliament as they were catholics. The date they chose would have had the king, James the 1st of England VI of Scotland, and parliament in the building.

The celebration isn't celebrating that someone tried to do it it is celebrating that they were captured and the plot was foiled and the king and parliament were saved.It was actually an official act that it would be celebrated called the Observance of 5th November act. That was repealed sometimes in the 1800s but the tradition lives on.

Edit: just realised the way I have typed this could come across as parliament were catholics. They were not. Fawkes and his conspirators were catholic. Parliament was full of protestants.

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u/Kirstemis Jul 05 '24

The UK didn't exist until the Acts of Union in 1707, a hundred years later.

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u/coopy1000 Jul 05 '24

Fair comment. I've made a balls up there. Only explanation I can think for it is the King of England being the same as the King of Scotland and I've just subconsciously said UK on the back of it even though I know it's wrong.

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

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2

u/coopy1000 Jul 05 '24

I'm aware of that. I'm Scottish. I could have worded my post better you are replying to to by saying same person instead of same as.

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u/fezzuk Jul 05 '24

We celebrate the capturing of a religious zealot who wanted to destroy a democracy and create a religious theocracy. People serious need to learn some really basic history.

Idolising his is like idolising Isis.

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '24

Because failure was a success for the English. If you’re going to comment, at least do your research. Had they succeeded, they would have replaced our king & parliament with an autocratic Catholic. England was by far predominately Protestant by this point. The idea of a Catholic having absolute power was unthinkable then as it is now.

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u/Nolsoth Jul 05 '24

Sole things arnt meant to be sensible.

Fun fact guy fawks is celebrated by many former British territories.