英语博客(A cup of English):011 Guy Fawkes Day.

　　Guy Fawkes Day.
Beginners.
November 5th is an important day in England. It is called Guy Fawkes Day. We have fireworks and big bonfires every year to celebrate parliament in our country. Guy Fawkes was a criminal. He tried to blow up the government and the king. He didn't do it. The police caught him and arrested him. This happened in 1605. The children make a figure out of material, they put it in a public place, and they ask for money. They spend the money on fireworks or candies. It is a fun holiday for everyone, especially because the nights are dark in late Fall. Each town and village has its own bonfire which is huge, and the people come from their homes, watch the fireworks, and eat baked potatoes. Then the 'Guy' is burned on the fire. What a tradition!
Grammar notes.
Verbs: try (preterite = tried); catch (preterite = caught); do (preterite = did).
Related words: parliament, country, government, king, tradition.
Advanced.
"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gun powder, treason, and plot."
These are the first two lines of a saying we have to celebrate the capture of Guy Fawkes in 1605, and the saving of the Houses of Parliament and King James 1st. I suppose it is a true story. It has certainly been celebrated¹ and enjoyed for four hundred years. Apparently², shortly before the gunpowder³ was lit, Guy Fawkes, who was standing⁴ guard, was spotted⁵ and arrested. He was tried, found guilty, and executed. I will spare you the gory⁶ details. And so, we celebrate the continuance of government, the monarchy⁷, and democracy. I feel great nostalgia⁸ at this time of year which is partly because of this special day. Each town and village would build a huge pile of wood in a public park or field. Then, as soon as it was dark, the people would start coming from their homes. The streets and alleyways would empty as the wide body of shadows would slide down to the field. You couldn't see anyone's face until the bonfire was lit. I remember feeling the warmth coming from this enormous, sun-like burning mass. Then, sparklers would be handed out to the children, so we could swirl⁹ them around for a few minutes, and be absorbed by their brilliance¹⁰. Children find these moments magical, of course. It is not until we are adults that we realize the significance of this piece of our culture, and that it is exactly this kind of celebration that makes each country unique.
Grammar notes.
Verbs: past continous made with the use of 'would'. Examples: He would arrive late and then would leave early; she would never shut the door; they wouldn't let us vote a hundred years ago.
Related words: parliament, government, king, queen, monarchy, crown, democracy, execute, continuance, fireworks, sparklers, bangers, nostalgia, gory details.
Useful expressions: unique, I suppose, certainly, apparently, to be absorbed by something.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

6 gory   

adj.流血的；残酷的

参考例句：

• I shuddered when I heard the gory details.我听到血淋淋的详情，战栗不已。
• The newspaper account of the accident gave all the gory details.报纸上报道了这次事故中所有骇人听闻的细节。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 nostalgia   

n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧

参考例句：

• He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
• I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。

9 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

10 brilliance   

n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智

参考例句：

• I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。