Guy Hall

Today is Guy Fawkes Day. In 1605 thirteen young men conspired to blow up Britain's House of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, a catholic who protested the Protestant government of his day. The "Gunpowder Plot," as it was called, was thwarted, and the leader, Guy Fawkes was caught, tortured, and executed.

Since that time Britons commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy, or sometimes of the Pope.

Interestingly, the memory of Guy Fawkes continues 400 years later on Ocracoke Island (albeit in a diminished and corrupted fashion) in a now rare saying. If an islander is thought to be up to no good, hiding his malicious intentions, someone else might comment, "He's sneakier than old Guy Hall."

Maybe it's time to add a celebration of "Guy Hall" to our annual Village Days. A bonfire on the beach sounds like fun to me. I'm sure creative islanders could come up with a list of contemporary politicians (both local & national; and from every political party) that they'd like to burn in effigy.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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