Guy Fawkes Day is a date which commemorates the saving of the royal family in 17th Century Britain from a plot to assassinate the English Parliament and King James I.
As part of the Commonwealth of Britain, Australia took on this day as part of historical celebrations, continuing on to modern times. The day falls on the 5th of November each year.
Guy Fawkes Day 2019 & 2020 Dates
History
This day marks the anniversary of the controversial drama known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’. It was a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and kill King James I on the day that he meant to open parliament in 1605.
The name of this day is after the famous conspirator who worked with other men, plotting this act since 1604. Guy Fawkes was among 14 others who conspired to blow up Parliament. It was said that this came about due to an uprising of English Catholic people who did not agree with the severe penal laws against their religion.
The conspiracy was uncovered in an anonymous letter sent to one of the lords on October 26, 1605, telling him that to attend the opening of Parliament would put him in grave danger.
An English Earl began to uncover the materials of secretly stored gunpowder, iron bars, and firewood and waiting until someone entered the cellar to arrest. This person was Guy Fawkes, who was taken into custody on the evening before the attack was to take place.
The other conspirators were found and executed, and some people who had knowledge of the plans were also killed. The celebration itself commemorates the failure of the plot and is even described as a national day of thanksgiving to saving the Parliament from a disastrous outcome.
An interesting explanation of the history can be read here also.
How Guy Fawkes Day is Celebrated In Australia
On this day, November 5 is a national observance for the United Kingdom and members of the commonwealth and others previously part of the British Empire.
The day is celebrated with parades, bonfires, fireworks, and food. Often, effigies of the conspirators, and Fawkes, in particular, are tossed onto the bonfire. Fireworks are representative of the explosives that weren’t set off and are always a big part of the annual celebrations on this day.
Guards of Parliament building are also known to have to check for arsonists and terrorist attacks, though it has been this way more as tradition and ceremony, rather than as a serious action.
That being said, it is still taken as an important check to be made, since history has shown that there will always be people looking to upturn the status quo in some way.
The lighting of fires is a big tradition as it is a way to also ceremoniously burn and let go of what isn’t needed. Parties that take place on that evening have a similar flavor to Halloween, in that festivities may have people dressing up in spooky outfits on the evening on bonfire and fireworks celebrations.
The Catholic church in many areas in the world that hold celebration is generally more restrained on this day, often not celebrating at all, due to the history of the uprising of the church being key in the conspirators’ intentions behind the attack.
The celebrations often lead to this day being referred to as Guy Fawkes Night, since the events are often revolved around evening time activities. Major cities (especially in the United Kingdom) will host large events for the general public to take part in that offer big fireworks displays and musical and performing acts around the bonfires.
Australia’s Celebration of Guy Fawkes Day
Due to the settlers bringing in many of the English traditions to the colonies around the world, Australia picked up the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day since the 18th Century.
One of the earliest recorded parades and burning of the effigy of Guy Fawkes in Australia happened in 1805. By the 1980s, however, the celebrations of Guy Fawkes Day have become less popular and began to move out of public awareness.
Eventually, Guy Fawkes Night celebrations of open bonfires in streets and homes became seen as less desirable, as they were unsafe. People were banned from lighting their own bonfires in public streets and spaces on this day.
When the selling of fireworks to the public also became outlawed in Australia in the mid-1990s, again this day had less significance of putting on celebrations. Mostly, it is now followed by the older generations who had a stronger tie to the British Commonwealth as they grew up in Australia or those people who have an interest in political history, who remember the origins of this day.