Ref, I never thought of the ceremony as romanticising Guy Fawkes. He is burned on the bonfire! More a reinforcement of his fate of hung-drawn-quartered I would suspect.

I've also long suspected that bonfire night is just an excuse for a party and a good fire, which is what 'bonfire' means. Treacle Parkin and roast potatoes, and beer for the men. Like the Druidic festival that it MAY have replaced.

Like Little Robyn, I've never seen a Guy in Auckland in the 31 years I've been here, and we are not allowed bonfires. They call it Fireworks Night and the Fun Police are trying to stop it.