Guy Fawkes Night From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Guy Fawkes Night Festivities in Windsor Castle during Guy Fawkes night. Aquatint with etching, Paul Standby, September 1776 Also called Bonfire Night Cracker Night Fireworks Night Bonny Night Observed by United Kingdom and some of its former colonies Type Cultural, Remembrance Significance Foiling of a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I , in London(England) in 1605 Date Evening of the 5th of November Observances Bonfires , fireworks , etc. Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night is an annual celebration on the evening of 5 November . It marks the downfall of the Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, in which a number of Catholic conspirators , including Guy Fawkes , attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament , in London , United Kingdom . It is primarily marked in the United Kingdom where it was compulsory, by fiat , until 1859, to celebrate the deliverance of the King of Great...