What historical name was commonly given to early British 5 November celebrations?

Early British 5 November celebrations were commonly known as Gunpowder Treason Day.

The name referred directly to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when conspirators planned to destroy the House of Lords during the state opening of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding gunpowder beneath the building on 5 November, making the date a symbol of the plot’s failure.

The official observance began with thanksgiving services and public ceremonies. The wording emphasized treason against the monarch and the state, as well as the conspirators’ Catholic beliefs. Over time, popular names became less formal, including Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night.

Modern celebrations often focus on fireworks, bonfires and social gatherings rather than the anti-Catholic politics of the original commemoration. Gunpowder Treason Day is therefore chiefly a historical name, while Bonfire Night is the familiar modern term in Britain.