Remember the 5th of November - Guy Fawkes day

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Remember, Remember the 5th of November

The History & Significance of Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night) 🎆🔥

"Remember, remember the 5th of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot."

Each year, on November 5th, the UK and other parts of the world celebrate Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night) with fireworks, bonfires, and the burning of Guy Fawkes effigies. But how did this tradition begin, and what’s the real story behind the Gunpowder Plot of 1605?

This guide explores the history, significance, and modern traditions of Guy Fawkes Night while uncovering the true story of Guy Fawkes and the failed attempt to assassinate King James I.

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📜 The Gunpowder Plot: A Failed Assassination Attempt

👑 King James I & Religious Tensions

When King James I took the throne on July 25, 1603, English Catholics hoped for religious tolerance after facing decades of persecution under Queen Elizabeth I. However, James refused to ease restrictions, leading to growing unrest.

💣 The Conspiracy – A Plan to Destroy Parliament

A group of 14 English Catholic conspirators, led by Robert Catesby, plotted to assassinate the king by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening of Parliament. The goal was to replace James I with his Catholic daughter, Princess Elizabeth.

📩 The Anonymous Letter That Exposed the Plot

The plan began to unravel when an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker, Lord Monteagle, warning him to avoid Parliament on November 5th. Historians speculate that Francis Tresham, one of the conspirators, may have written the letter.

🔎 The Capture of Guy Fawkes – November 5, 1605

As a result of the letter, authorities searched Westminster Palace in the early hours of November 5, 1605. They found Guy Fawkes guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder hidden beneath the House of Lords.

🚨 What happened to the conspirators?

• Guy Fawkes was tortured for days before confessing to the plot.
• The conspirators were captured, tried for treason, and sentenced to death.
• Guy Fawkes avoided a gruesome execution by jumping from the gallows and breaking his neck. His body was still quartered, and his head placed on a spike at London Bridge.

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🔥 The Birth of Bonfire Night – Why Do We Celebrate Guy Fawkes Day?

When news of the failed Gunpowder Plot spread, Londoners lit bonfires to celebrate King James I’s survival. The tradition continued every year, and in 1606, the government passed the Observance of 5th November Act, officially declaring November 5th as a day of national thanksgiving.

🎆 How Guy Fawkes Night Is Celebrated Today

Bonfire Night is still widely celebrated across the UK with:
✔️ Fireworks displays symbolizing the gunpowder that never exploded.
✔️ Bonfires lit in town squares and gardens.
✔️ Burning of Guy Fawkes effigies as a symbolic execution.
✔️ Traditional foods like toffee apples, parkin cake, and roasted chestnuts.

🚨 Fun Fact: In Lewes, England, Bonfire Night is one of the largest fire festivals in the world, featuring elaborate processions and flaming torches.

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🎭 The Legacy of Guy Fawkes in Pop Culture

🕵️ The Guy Fawkes Mask & V for Vendetta

The iconic Guy Fawkes mask, popularized by Alan Moore’s graphic novel and the 2005 movie V for Vendetta, has become a symbol of rebellion and resistance. The mask is often associated with Anonymous, the Occupy Movement, and other activist groups.

📺 Guy Fawkes in Film & Literature

• 🎬 V for Vendetta (2005) – A dystopian film where the protagonist wears a Guy Fawkes mask to fight tyranny.
• 📖 Gunpowder (BBC, 2017) – A dramatized retelling of the Gunpowder Plot starring Kit Harington.
• 🎮 Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – References to Guy Fawkes and medieval England’s political struggles.

🚨 Did You Know? The phrase "Penny for the Guy" comes from an old tradition where children would collect money to buy fireworks by displaying homemade Guy Fawkes effigies.

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📌 Final Thoughts – Why Guy Fawkes Night Still Matters

Though over 400 years have passed, the legacy of the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes Night continues to influence British culture, politics, and activism. Whether you see Guy Fawkes as a villain or a symbol of resistance, his story remains one of the most famous failed assassination attempts in history.

🔥 Will you be celebrating Bonfire Night this year? Let us know in the comments! 🎆🔥

Krampus is coming to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

Universal Studios Hollywood 2016 Halloween Horror Nights - Krampus

You better watch out, You better not cry, You better not pout, I'm telling you why: Krampus is coming to town!

Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights collaborated closely with 'Legendary Pictures' and filmmaker Michael Dougherty to bring you a terrifying Krampus encounter. This Halloween Horror Nights Maze is inspired by the 2015 film and brings a Dark Christmas themed scare.

Krampus (Released December 2015) was rated PG-13, ran 1 hour and 38 minutes and was a mix of Comedy, Fantasy and Horror. The plot revolves around a young boy's dysfunctional family over the Christmas holiday. Young Max (Emjay Anthony) becomes disillusioned and his lack of festive holiday spirit unleashes the wrath of Krampus. Christmas holiday icons take on a monstrous life and lay siege to the fractured family's home, forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

Most everyone knows the story of Santa Claus and how he brings toys to good little children on Christmas Eve. What is lesser known is what happens to the naughty children who don't make Santa's list. Who visits them on Christmas Eve? What "gifts" are brought to them?

The Krampus Halloween Horror Nights Maze at Universal Studios Hollywood takes an Old World Christmas legend based on the 2015 hit film and shows you what happens when you make the naughty list. Krampus and his nasty little helpers have come to terrorize those who lost the Christmas spirit.

It will be a lesson you will never forget, if you can survive it.

Review

Like the 2015 Dark Christmas Halloween Horror Night Scare Zone, Krampus adds a fun and interesting twist to the normally jolly holiday.

As you approach the Krampus haunted house/maze, you find yourself entering the Engel family home decorated with Christmas lights, icicles, and the foreboding effigy of Krampus standing on the rooftop. A frozen mailman walks back and forth in front of the house giving you a photo op before you enter.

The maze takes place inside a version of the Engel house and yard, with smells of pumpkin spice and pine throughout the maze adding to the effect. Fog is a common element in many of Krampus’ scenes, add that to the dark nature of some scenes and you have practically zero visibility, a frightrning effect as you anticipate what will happen next. The foreboding atmosphere can, at times, be even scarier than seeing the monster jump out.

This honestly was our favorite haunted house and we went twice. The maze does well in replicating scenes from the movie and you won't always find a scare, but the detail is wonderful. So many of Krampus’ minions are present, including the evil gingerbread horde, as well as the man eating jack-in-the-box with a have eaten woman reaching for your help.

Like The Exorcist Maze, there is heavy use of animatronics, puppets and props throughout Krampus, transforming the well know Christmas season into a twisted and corrupt versions. A definite highlight is the attic scene with the Christmas tree angel. Along with props, live actors also appear throughout the experience, though sometimes predictable, not always.

Zombie Invasion at West Wind's Glendale Drive-In

Zombies are coming to the West Wind's Glendale Drive In Movie Theater 

Saturday; October 22, 2016

Gates will open at 6:00 PM and the movies start at 7:30 pm.

The Glendale Drive In Theater is holding its first annual Zombie Fest with a great line up of zombie movies picked by our customers. The Zombie Theatrical Line Up will include: Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, and Dawn of the Dead.

Arrive early so you can get your face painted to look like a Zombie.

Visit West Wind Drive-In and Public Market (Glendale, AZ) on Facebook for News and Deals!

About West Wind

Family owned and operated company that opened their first drive-in theater in 1952 and now own and operate the largest drive-in theater chain in the world with four in California, one in Arizona and two in Nevada.

No longer is the experience dim screens and “squawk boxes” that hang on your car door as they invested in audio that plays to your car stereo and some of the largest digital projectors available with a crystal-clear digital image on screens larger than ones you’ll find in walk-in theaters.

See first run movies at the same time as indoor theaters.

Grab a bite from the snack bar and enjoy a Nathan’s Famous all-beef hot dogs and complete line of Pepsi products, even fresh baked pizza at some locations.

Let the kids play between double features at the playground or arcade.

Comped Drinks to Disappear at Casinos in Las Vegas?

Are Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos Disappearing? 🍸🎰

For decades, free drinks in Las Vegas casinos have been a hallmark of the Sin City experience. Whether you're playing slots, video poker, or table games, cocktail waitresses traditionally serve complimentary drinks to keep gamblers at the machines or tables.

However, as of October 2016, major casino companies like Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have begun implementing new rules to determine who qualifies for free cocktails while gambling.

Are Las Vegas casino comps disappearing? Let’s take a look at how casino drink policies are changing and whether you can still enjoy free drinks while gambling in Vegas.

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🍹 How Do Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos Work?

Casinos offer complimentary drinks to gamblers to encourage longer play and bigger bets. The logic is simple:

✔️ The more you drink, the more you play.
✔️ The longer you stay, the more money the casino makes.
✔️ Casinos hope free drinks make you "loosen up" and gamble more aggressively.

Until recently, free drinks were provided with almost no restrictions, as long as you were actively gambling. However, new technology is changing the system.

🚨 New Casino Drink Rules – What’s Changing?

1️⃣ Caesars Entertainment – New Comp Drink System

✔️ As of 2016, Caesars properties have installed "comp drink indicator lights" on their video poker machines.
✔️ Gamblers must wager a certain amount per hand to trigger a green light indicating that they qualify for a free drink.
✔️ This system is being used in Las Vegas, Laughlin, Reno, and Stateline near Lake Tahoe.

📢 What does this mean?

• Low rollers who play slowly or at low stakes may not receive free drinks.
• If you want complimentary cocktails, you’ll need to bet at higher levels.

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2️⃣ MGM Resorts – Free Drink Vouchers

✔️ MGM Resorts (which owns MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, and others) has introduced a new drink voucher system.
✔️ Instead of unlimited free drinks, players at MGM Grand and The Mirage must earn vouchers by hitting a set amount of playtime.
✔️ Once you reach the casino’s requirement, the machine will print a voucher for a free drink.

📢 What does this mean?

• You can no longer get unlimited free drinks just by sitting and playing slowly.
• The system rewards players who actively gamble for longer periods.

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🍸 Can You Still Get Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos?

Despite the changes, Las Vegas is still one of the few places where you can get complimentary drinks while gambling.

✔️ Free drinks are still available at most casinos, but with restrictions.
✔️ High rollers and table game players still receive the best drink service.
✔️ Some casinos (like off-Strip properties) still offer free drinks with no restrictions.

💡 Pro Tip: If you want to maximize your chances of getting free drinks in Vegas:

• Stick to table games (dealers tend to call waitresses for drinks more frequently).
• Tip the cocktail waitress well on the first round—this increases your chances of getting faster refills.
• Avoid low-stakes and slow play at video poker machines, where casinos now track your activity.

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🍹 Where to Still Get Free Drinks in Las Vegas (2024 Update)

Not all casinos have implemented the strict drink-tracking policies used by Caesars and MGM. If you’re looking for the best places to still enjoy free drinks, consider these options:

✔️ Downtown Las Vegas (Fremont Street Casinos) – The Golden Nugget, Binion’s, and El Cortez still offer complimentary drinks with less hassle.
✔️ The Cosmopolitan – Great drink service for active gamblers, especially at the Chandelier Bar and high-limit slots.
✔️ Tuscany Suites & Casino – A hidden gem off the Strip where free drinks flow more easily.
✔️ The STRAT (Stratosphere) – Still one of the best places for free drinks on the Strip with low-table minimums.

📢 Pro Tip: The fancier the casino, the stricter the free drink rules. If you want free alcohol without restrictions, avoid the high-end resorts like Bellagio and Aria.

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🏆 Will Free Drinks Disappear Completely in Las Vegas?

Many fear that Las Vegas casino comps are disappearing, but the reality is:

✔️ Casinos will always offer free drinks—just with more restrictions.
✔️ Casinos compete for gamblers, and some properties will always provide better perks.
✔️ Tip well, play consistently, and choose the right casino to keep getting free drinks.

💭 My Prediction:

• Some casinos may start offering "comp drink cards" for loyalty members.
• Downtown Las Vegas and off-Strip casinos will continue offering better free drink policies than the Strip.
• High rollers and VIP players will always get complimentary drinks, no matter what.

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📌 Final Thoughts – Are Free Drinks in Vegas Still Worth It?

Las Vegas is changing, but free drinks are still available for gamblers who play strategically. The key is to understand the new rules, choose the right casinos, and play at the right level to maximize casino comps and complimentary cocktails.

📢 Have you noticed the new drink policies in Vegas? Share your experience in the comments below! 🍸🎰

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