Guy Fawkes night
A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston
I grew up on a farm on a long straight road that led from almost the heart of New Plymouth to a gravelled turn-around at the foot of the Taranaki Ranges. Across the road from our house was the Mangorei Cricket Club. Every Guy Fawkes, farmer dads would cart loads of lumber offcuts and fallen trees and the odd piece of unwanted furniture to the club grounds, and an enormous bonfire would be assembled. Come Guy Fawkes night, the whole road would gather. Parents stood round and gossiped, kids ran about with sparklers or - the older ones - double-happies. Catherine wheels were nailed to a post and set off; someone's dad would always stuff up a few rockets, sending them bouncing along the grass instead of into the air. Deep blue sky overhead, long cold grass under your feet, the crackling smoking heat of the bonfire, the joy of inscribing your name in space with a stick of sparkling light - Guy Fawkes was magic.
William Godber dressed up for Guy Fawkes celebrations, seated in a wooden wheelbarrow
Alexander Turnbull Library
Children in Denniston, dressed up for Guy Fawkes
Alexander Turnbull Library
Children with 'sparkler' fireworks, Guy Fawkes Night
Alexander Turnbull Library
Children with rival guys, Guy Fawkes day at Ohingaiti
Alexander Turnbull Library
A Guy Fawkes figure hanging from a yard on the tug Tapuhi, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Rocket head that landed in a Karori garden on Guy Fawkes
Alexander Turnbull Library
Guy Fawkes, 1980's-90's
Kete Horowhenua
Dog dressed up for Guy Fawkes celebrations
Alexander Turnbull Library
Anne Herrington and Tracy Kelly holding sparklers on Guy Fawkes Day, Wainuiomata, Wellington
Alexander Turnbull Library
Dog dressed up for Guy Fawkes celebrations
Alexander Turnbull Library
Guy Fawkes night II
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Guy Fawkes at Wakefield
Nelson Photo News
Guy Fawkes Remembered
Nelson Photo News
Guy Fawkes Day
Nelson Photo News
Guy Fawkes Remembered
Nelson Photo News
The Modern Guy Fawkes. (Observer, 23 June 1894)
National Library of New Zealand
Hazard's assorted boxes of Pain's celebrated fireworks. [1909 or 1915].
Alexander Turnbull Library
Guy Fawkes day in Haining Street, Wellington; a study in faces, an illustration by Porangi
Alexander Turnbull Library
Fireworks over Hamburg
Auckland Libraries
Evans Bay & Fireworks
Kete Horowhenua
Evans Bay & Fireworks
Kete Horowhenua
Naval fireworks in Greece
Auckland Libraries
The fireworks display on the Auckland Harbour
Auckland Libraries
The fireworks display and illuminations at Devonport on coronation night
Auckland Libraries
Fireworks display in Wanganui on the night of the excursion
Victoria University of Wellington
The display of fireworks on the Railway Wharf, June 11, 1901
Auckland Libraries
The night sky lit up by fireworks over Eastbourne, Lower Hutt
Alexander Turnbull Library