Guy Fawkes Night is traditionally observed in the United Kingdom on 5 November.
The date commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. A group of English Catholics planned to destroy the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament and kill King James I. Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding barrels of gunpowder beneath the building during the early hours of 5 November.
News of the plot spread quickly, and people in London lit bonfires to celebrate the king’s survival. Parliament later established an annual service and day of thanksgiving through the Observance of 5th November Act 1605. Over time, the religious and political meaning became less prominent, while bonfires, fireworks and effigies became the familiar traditions.
The date is sometimes confused with Halloween because both festivals involve fire or costumes, but Halloween is observed on 31 October. Remembrance Day, on 11 November, is a separate commemoration.