Customs and habits of great britain introduction

4. Search the Parliamentary Cellars
Before the opening of Parliament half a dozen “Beefeaters” do the searching of the cellars underneath the Houses of Parliament, in memory of Guy Fawkes and the Gun Powder Plot* in 1605.
Guy Fawkes was the chief instrument in the Gun Powder which was intended to blow up James I and his anti-Roman Catholic Government at the opening of Parliament on the 5^th of November, 1605. the plot miscarried owing to an anonymous warning sent to Lord Monteagle. Fawkes was arrested among the barrels of gunpowder that he had stacked beneath the House of Lords. He was tortured by order of James I and signer confessions. These confessions were used as evidence at the trial in Westminster Hall of Fawkes and his fellow-conspirators, who were sentenced to be hanged, drown and quartered.
The 5^th of November is marked in England as Guy Fawkes Day. In the evening bonfires are lit on high hills and fireworks are let off in the streets.
III. PAGEANTRY
Pageantry* and other colorful ceremonies are part of everyday life in Britain.
1. Royal Ceremonies*
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard* at Buckingham and St. James's Palaces era ceremonies of great interest. Each new guard mounts sentries* for 24 hours, though sometimes the guard remains on duty for 48 hours.
The ceremony at Buckingham Palace takes place daily 11.30 a.m. By tradition the duty of mounting the Queen's Guard is undertaken by one occasionally the honor is given to a Regiment of the Line* or to one of other Services*. The ceremony is attended by one of the Regimental bands.
At the Horse Guards* in the Whitehalf the Changing of the Queen's Life Guard Of Household Cavalry* takes place at 11 a.m. on weekdays and at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
Trooping the Colour*
It is annual ceremony which blends two ancient military custom-guard mounting and lodging the colours. It recalls the day when each company of soldiers had its own colors clearly visible as rallying points in dust and confusion of battle. Each evening the colours were ceremonially carried down the ranks and escorted to a billet be lodged for the night.
From this derives the magnificent display of the marching and wheeling by the Regiments of the brigade of Guards, which marks the Sovereign's Birthday (in June). At different traditional ceremonies you will see bright and very picturesque uniforms worn by the guards, troopers and sentries of her Majesty's own Royal Guards Regiments. The troopers of the horse Guards regiment which has existed since the 12^th century, have bright red gold uniforms, shining top-boots, golden helmets with features.
The Gurkha soldiers* wear high Gurkha fur hats.
Drums are drumming, banners are flying, the drummer' sticks and flying up in the air.