Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated on November 5 in the United Kingdom (and in some Commonwealth countries) as a commemoration of the thwarted Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and other plotters attempted to blow up Parliament and kill King James I. The celebration began as a public day of thanksgiving for the king’s survival and evolved into a broader community event featuring bonfires, fireworks, and the burning of effigies, historically of Guy Fawkes himself and sometimes other figures. Over centuries, the tone shifted from anti-Catholic and political satire to a more general festive occasion, with many places now focusing on family-friendly fireworks displays and community gatherings rather than the original religious or political propoganda.