November 5, 1605, was caught in the nick of time just as he was about to apply a lighted taper to barrels of gunpowder with the intention of blowing up the Houses of Parliament.

As with most ceremonies and customs, locals have added their own touch to the bonfire tradition. As people stand and watch the Guy burn, they eat sweet potato pudding, which is really like a spice cake. It is believed to be a substitute devised by the early settlers of Bermuda for Parkin, an oatmeal and treacle cake well known to English north countrymen as a November 5th treat.

In bygone days sweet potato pudding was also accompanied by berry beer -- a drink made by fermenting the ripe cedar tree berries.

Here are two recipes from What's Cooking in Bermuda by Betsy Ross.

SWEET POTATO PUDDING (TRADITIONAL) 1 2 cups flour 1 1 cups sugar 1 tsp. soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. cloves 1 cup margarine 1 cup mashed, cooked sweet potato 1 cup water 1 egg SIFT all dry ingredients together into a mixing bowl. Add margarine, sweet potato and water. Beat about 300 strokes by hand or 2 minutes with an electric beater. Scrape sides of bowl. Add egg. Beat 2 minutes longer. Place batter in a greased 8-inch square cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40 minutes.

Note: Despite its label, this pudding departs from the traditional in that it calls for more flour and less sweet potato. The reason for the change is to eliminate the heavy, soggy texture which was found in the old time pudding. To change the recipe further, add 1 cup chopped dates and 1 cup chopped nuts.

Making a complete break with tradition is this delectable recipe: SWEET POTATO PUDDING (MODERN) (Mrs. Jack Outerbridge) In a mixing bowl, mash sweet potatoes from two tins (1 lb. 1 oz.) size. Then add: 1 tsp. salt 1 cup melted butter 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. cloves 1 tsp. allspice 2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup orange juice BEAT 6 egg yolks with 1 2 cups sugar until thick. This is very important. Add to sweet potato mixture. Coat one pound of raisins with 1 cup flour. Add to sweet potato mixture. Beat 6 egg whites with 1 cup sugar to make a meringue.

Fold in. Bake in two pans (about 13 x 10) which have been lightly greased and floured. For glass pans, bake at 325 degrees F. for 50-60 minutes. For metal tins, bake at 350 degrees F.