Every year on 5th November we dress up warm, put on our woolly hats and drag the kids out into a field to celebrate. We enjoy the fireworks, watch the bonfire burn and enjoy chowing down on a toffee apple (Never had one? They’re a real treat!)

But what are we celebrating? A man named Guy Fawkes. And his failure. On 5th November 1605, Guy and his Catholic buddies attempted to blow up parliament and assassinate King James I of England, in what’s been forever known as the Gunpower Plot. His plan was to use 36 barrels of gunpowder to flatten the whole building. And he got pretty close… But thanks to an anonymous letter that was sent to the authorities, his plan was foiled. They conducted a search of the House of Lords and Guy was found guarding his barrels of gunpowder in the cellar. Guy was tried in the courts and found guilty of treason, before being hanged, drawn and quartered (a traditional British punishment back then)!

What’s Guy Fawkes got to do with Bonfire Night? Everything. Bonfire night is a night to celebrate his failure. A time for the people to join together and remember the time that democracy prevailed.

It’s one of the big British family gatherings of the year – but it has a darker side too. We don’t just set off fireworks and burn the bonfire. We burn Guy too. Every year there’s a competition to make the best “Guy” (basically a lifesize, scarecrow supposed to be a replica of Guy Fawkes) The kids select their dad’s old clothing, stuff it full of hay and shove a hat on his head. A judge decides which “Guy” is the best and that one is the winner. That Guy is then wheeled out in front of the crowds – and burnt on the bonfire for all to see.

Just a good family night out, see? I never actually realised how odd Bonfire Night was until I was talking to one of my buddies abroad and had to explain it… Kinda dark isn’t it? But every culture has its unusual celebrations – in parts of Europe The Krampus comes to terrify children, giving them sweets if they’ve been good or putting them in a sack and taking them to hell if they’ve been bad!

Being in an international business like freight, learning and understanding different cultures is a really important thing. Not only do some public holidays impact the movement of freight, but cultural differences can change the way we communicate and do business too.

So how about you? Does your country have any weird and wacky (or dark!) public holidays? Please do share –  I’d love to hear about them!