Chants = bonfire prayers - variants on remember, remember the fifth of november. see my publication the first comprehensive collection of these in print.

Tootler way ahead of you. The first effigies were of the devil and the young pretender. Popes came later. The concept of effigy burning is founded in old testament and early british theology the idea is to send up a reminder to god that the evil deed was remembered and never intended to harm anyones soul.

For a comprehensive history of celebration and the plot see my gunpowder plot web pages.....note especially the american version.

No dont pretend it is period food but documentation is that it came before 1605 so fawkes and co could have dined on turkey....

Just finished the torches today. Absolutely traditional learned from Hastings Borough Bonfire. They will burn their bonfire this weekend and in it will be a good sized piece of american oak from my woodpile.
We will receive on from theirs.

conrad