Guy Fawkes, Where Are You?

Guy Fawkes Day, that's what this country needs. The Gunpowder Plot might be a little obscure for Americans, but there's no need for the day to be anchored to any particular historic event. We could burn effigies of other hated figures on November 5 just because we need a day to burn effigies. Last year, for instance, it could have been effigy Wall Street bankers.

But it will never happen here, and if news accounts are to be believed, the custom is being elbowed out in Britain by North American-style Halloween. Our British cousins are making a mistake, if you asked me.

Speaking of Halloween, the candy haul was large this year for both daughters, and much of it is still in the bags in which it was collected. I was mildly disappointed as I pawed through the selection because there was little in the way of unusual candy. Not even any Mexican or Polish candy, which would be quite easy to get around here.

Next year I'm going to make a point of giving away something off beat -- dollar-store or Big Lots items, maybe -- since we too were guilty of giving away only the usual this year: 3 Musketeers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Baby Ruths and Nestle Crunch. These are all good candies, but nothing to make a kid say, "What's this weird one?"