Penny for the guy?

[purplepoppy]

In the UK children make life sized dolls out old clothes then cart them about asking strangers for a "penny for the guy." It's kind of street begging for kiddies, the idea being they can buy fireworks to play with. Then on bonfire night they throw their doll on the fire and watch it burn.

But the tradition is dying out. I remember doing it as a little girl but I haven't seen it in recent years.

So if you're British did you make a guy and when is the last time you saw one?

Updates

+1 y

Fun fact. Guy as in girlsaskguys comes from these doll's, it used to mean a poorly dressed man in rags.

[WilmaReportu]

This act of innocent children pretending to be adults and asking for money from strangers is a concerning issue that needs to be addressed. It is a form of child exploitation that goes against the innocence and purity of children.

It is important that we raise awareness about this issue and take action to prevent it from happening. We need to educate children about the dangers of street begging and the harm it can cause. Parents and guardians need to be vigilant and monitor their children's activities to ensure they are not involved in any form of child exploitation.

[Jersey2]

When I read your posts I hear it in the voice of Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter.

[DJB72]

The "guy" was originally the effigy of Guido Fawkes and November 5th was the day he tried to blow up parliament, which was why his effigy was burned and fireworks were used to celebrate.

I miss the simple days when the last one holding the firecracker was the loser. Usually got away with 1st degree burns. That time of year when "Blue Peter" felt the need to remind children to make sure the family pet tortoise hadn't decided to hibernate in the bonfire before you lit it and everyone had a few rockets to set off.

Now I'm stuck trying to find a place I can buy saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal so I can amuse my son by blowing up the back garden instead of buying ready mixed explosives to launch a few hundred feet into the air...

[mstbooblover]

Very interesting, although I've never seen or assisted this kind of festivities, but then, I'm not British ;0)

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Americans had a tradition like that for Halloween back in the late 1800’s. Except instead of life-size dolls, it was chairs and old furniture “stolen” from porches to burn in a bonfire in the street when they finished trick or treating. Bonfires are now pretty reserved and more heavily controlled these days

[Billlewis]

Sounds like a plan!

[love_conquers_lust]

They really did this? That’s pretty wild.

[Mansearching]

That's creepy.

[Debbie14217]

Not sure