The neighborhood celebration of Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night happened last night, three nights past the canonical date, but we are southern Coloradans, not necessarily up to date.
Flags of Scotland and Colorado, united in a garage devoted to beer, auto restoration . . . and table tennis.
The hostess is emphatically Scottish. Although she has lived here more than twenty years, raised two kids, and stayed employed, she retains her British citizenship—and when the 18th of September rolled around—the Scottish referendum on independence — you could count her in the “No” camp.
On his pocked, “45%,” the vote percentage gained by the pro-independence side.
I wasn’t too surprised then that this year’s “guy” was an effigy of Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond. It’s not always a political thing, although one night a local landowner almost got his turn on the fire.
As usual, the daughter of the house carved a Guy Fawkes-themed jack o’ l
antern.
I may live in a community (not a statutory town) of about six hundred, but even we have our moments of globalization.
On the other hand — and my hosts were well aware of this — had we burnt Salmond in the UK, it would have been a matter for “police concern.” In the Sussex town of Lewes, an interesting substitution was made.
The Scots could have been a great people, if they’d just quit fighting amongst themselves. My last wife was born and raised Scot. She was very active (like car bomb active) in Scottish politics, and she hated the English. I’m guessing the Union victory was highly upsetting to her. It would have been youtube worthy had she and this woman in your post came face to face. 😀
No doubt!
I live in an area of the country where most people are Scot/Irish. Talk about clannish! Sheesh!