About Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also called Bonfire Night, is marked across the United Kingdom on 5 November. It recalls the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when a group of Catholic conspirators tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I. Guy Fawkes was caught guarding the explosives. It is a popular tradition rather than an official public holiday.
Communities light large bonfires and stage firework displays, often at organized public events. Effigies known as guys, traditionally representing Fawkes, are burned on the flames. People eat toffee apples, treacle and baked potatoes cooked in the embers, and children once begged for a penny for the guy. Because it is not a holiday, workplaces and schools stay open.
Guy Fawkes Night · 2025–2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Guy Fawkes Night 2026 in United Kingdom?
Thursday, Thursday, 5 November 2026.
Is Guy Fawkes Night a public holiday in United Kingdom?
Guy Fawkes Night — Observance (United Kingdom).