Wait, remember ? Well, Guy Fawkes and his part in an attempt to blow up England’s Parliament in 1605.

Why? Because Guy was an English Catholic and he wanted to ‘splode the Protestant aristocracy that controlled England at the time. Read more about it with these links here: parliament.uk; Wikipedia; Gunpowder Plot Society.

Nowadays, November 5th is an English holiday. Fun.

And how might you observe Guy Fawkes Night here in San Francisco? Here are our suggestions:

* Have some gunpowder tea. It’s a form of green tea rolled into pellets with a smoky tang. Here’s a link to tea rooms ‘round the Bay Area. And, while we’re on the subject, don’t forget about Pinhead Gunpowder – the East Bay pop-punk semi-supergroup with Aaron Cometbus on the drums and Green Day’s Billie Joe guitarin’. They got their name from the Pingshui Gunpowder variety of the tea, and their split seven-inch single with Dillinger Four is as bracing as a cuppa gunpowder. Mmm.

* Be glad that our monarchy is less obviously ostentatious than England's, if no less an annoyance.

* For fireworks in your mouf, get hot salsa on your burrito instead the mild salsa you usually get (, wuss). Look to the oracle of burritoeater.com for guidance (and mustaches).

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