Guy Fawkes Day
Guy Fawkes Day in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
| United Kingdom | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Guy Fawkes Day | Monday 5th November | Tuesday 5th November | Thursday 5th November |
Guy Fawkes Day
What is Guy Fawkes Day?
Guy Fawkes Day is traditionally commemorated on November 5 each year. Also known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Day is commemorated on the evening of November 5 by the lighting of a bonfire, usually with an effigy of Guy Fawkes at the top of the pyre which is burnt, accompanied by a fireworks display.
The origins and significance of Guy Fawkes Day
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes was a member of an English Catholic group that planned to assassinate King James I, a protestant, with the aim of restoring a Catholic monarch to the throne. Known as the Gunpowder Plot, the group placed thirty six barrels of gunpowder in the undercroft below the House of Lords at Westminster, London, immediately prior to the opening of parliament on November 5, 1605. The Gunpowder Plot was foiled when an anonymous letter alerted the authorities to Guy Fawkes who, due to his expertise with gunpowder, was given the task of guarding and igniting it.
Guy Fawkes Day became synonymous with the failure of the Gunpowder Plot and has been commemorated each year in Britain on Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night, November 5, ever since.
Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night celebrations
Traditionally, each year on November 5, people had their own backyard bonfires and fireworks on Guy Fawkes Day. Naturally, for greatest effect, these celebrations usually took place in the evening, hence the labels Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night also given to the occasion. In modern times Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, celebrations have become more and more communal. Now, councils and charities hold commemoration fireworks and bonfires on Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, on or around November 5, with entry usually gained by a small fee. Although Guy Fawkes Day is not a public holiday, Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night, celebrations are a popular family event for all to enjoy.