The Duke of Marlborough and notoriety

[Insula Dei]

Where I'm from people still take the pain to burn John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in effigy on a yearly basis. Yes, they call him 'Malbroek' and he has become a bit of a stand-in for everything that's rotten in this vale of tears, rather than an historical figure. And yes, it's hardly the most trendy occasion of the year, maybe even having become a bit of a feast for the local folklorists and for the very old. But still, I think that showing this sort of hatred some 300 years after the fact, proves that we do both have long memories and a bit of a talent for holding grudges.

Does anyone know of any other places on the world where there still is a similar ritual centering around a hated figure from ancient history? I feel like I must be forgetting some really obvious ones.

[Senator Ben]

Cromwell in Ireland?

[Joe Republic]

November 5th in Britain.  Continuing to celebrate the death of an incompetent terrorist from 400 years ago is a bit much.

[Sibboleth]

Joe's named the obvious example, of course. Sort of hard to imagine late autumn without it, actually. It's also the main night for fireworks in Britain.

Of course in Lewes they burn the Pope.

[J. J.]

November 5th in Britain.  Continuing to celebrate the death of an incompetent terrorist from 400 years ago is a bit much.

Guy Fawkes.  Not his death, but his incompetence. 

He's credited with, among other things, of giving the word "guy," meaning a male, to the English language, the English idiom, "Penny for the Guy," and, in the US, the Halloween custom of "Trick or Treat."