Celebrated on 5 November, Guy Fawkes night is an annual event which was originally brought by British settlers to New Zealand. This date commemorates the 1605 arrest of Guy Fawkes, who was part of a plot to assassinate the King of England.
At the time, Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the King's escape from being killed by lighting bonfires, and the event endures today in New Zealand in the form of backyard displays and community bonfires.
Many of our collections contain photographs of bonfires on beaches, reserves and farms, handsome ‘guy’ effigies and fireworks shooting into the sky. In this kete we've shared a selection of these collection items.
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taonga | item
The Nepe Family's Guy Fawkes Bonfire: Rotowaro
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
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Geoffrey C Wood Nelson Evening Mail proof sheet: Lions Guy Fawkes bonfire at Back Beach
Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao
