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Glite Dictionary
Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night

1 6.7
A yearly UK event on November 5 when people light bonfires and watch fireworks to remember the Gunpowder Plot
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : Noche de las hogueras
  • Today, 5th November, is Bonfire Night in Britain.

And then it's nearly Bonfire Night and then it's nearly Christmas.

Examples

  • We have compiled some of the most important safety precautions on sparkler safety, lighting fireworks, tending bonfires, and protecting pets to make sure your Bonfire Night is a memorable night for all the right reasons.

    Blog text (34)

  • If you're hosting a Bonfire Night party at your house or just having family fireworks, you really need to know all the safety tips beforehand.

    Blog text (34)

  • And then it's nearly Bonfire Night and then it's nearly Christmas.

    Zoella

  • What about that one Bonfire Night when you lost it?

    All of Us Strangers (2023)

  • These teenagers should be enjoying Bonfire Night by going to an organized display, not causing trouble.

    Blog text (20)

  • So, we've got Halloween out of the way, it's not time to think about Christmas quite yet—we have the excitement of Bonfire Night upon us.

    Blog text (34)

  • Today, 5th November, is Bonfire Night in Britain.

  • Remember, remember, the 5th of November, or Bonfire Night as it is known in Britain.

  • If you're hosting a Bonfire Night party at your house or just having family fireworks, you really need to know all the safety tips beforehand.

Synonyms

November 5
vsBonfire Night
  • UK
1 4.4

A day in Britain when people light bonfires and watch fireworks to remember the 1605 Gunpowder Plot

refers to the celebration itself rather than only to the calendar date
Guy Fawkes Day
vsBonfire Night
  • UK
4.9

A British celebration on 5 November with fireworks and a bonfire where people burn a model of Guy Fawkes

is centered on large outdoor fires rather than on burning effigies
Guy Fawkes Night
vsBonfire Night
  • UK
6.5

An annual British event on November 5 where people light fireworks and burn effigies

is more about large outdoor fires than about burning a specific effigy

Surface Forms

Bonfire Night singular
Bonfire Nights plural

Morphology

bonfire + night

The compound clearly combines 'bonfire' + 'night', so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a night with bonfires (likely a celebration with fireworks). However, the specific cultural and historical referent (the UK annual Nov 5 commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot) cannot be derived from the constituents, making the expression only partially predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Bonfire Night began after a failed 1605 plot to blow up parliament; people lit big bonfires, burned a man-shaped dummy called Guy Fawkes and set off fireworks. That's why today Bonfire Night means the November 5 'celebration' with fires and fireworks.