Many years ago , well in Scotland anyway , bonfire night as well as fireworks roast tatties etc, was a good time to get rid of old furniture etc,anything what was burnable , people could have a good clearout of rubbish.

That was the original purpose of Guy Fawkes night.A uniquely British knees up. Fire works is used all over the world.so nothing British about. I can remember the atmosphere of that night as a child.

I think the modern idea of equality and all that led to the story being slightly "re-invented to try and not offend Catholics. As a child I had no knowledge of Religion or Politics.

We knew he was a man who tried to blow up the King and Parliament.

Really? I thought we just celebrated the fact that once upon a time somebody actually went to Parliament with a good idea.

Good point do they still burn effigy's of the pope in Ulster and if islamic extremists blew up parliament would the effigy be altered ?

Some people just have an inherent need to to interfere with everything that isn't hymn singing or prayer especially if it includes amusing oneself around a fire.

Never heard that one about Pagans, wasn't old Guy the founder member of the IRA?

I wasn't aware that they were!

Sorry!

with certain Pagan traditions, holidays etc.

It's basically about a celebrating a Catholics death and the prevention of the destruction of the houses of Parliament . Anything that could be seen as being related to Pagan aspects is pure coincidence