Observance Daily What day is today, and why are we celebrating it?
November 5 holidays, observances and history: here is everything the day holds, from bonfires and fireworks to red hair, football, and presidential elections.
November 5 is a dramatic day. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday, which puts National Men Make Dinner Day, International Stout Day, International Project Management Day and National Cash Back Day in their first-Thursday slots. It is also Bonfire Night in the UK and National Love Your Red Hair Day. November 5 is the 309th day of 2026, with 56 days left in the year.
November 5 holidays and observances
Twelve observances share November 5 this year. Here is what each one celebrates:
Bonfire Night, in the United Kingdom, remembers the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of Guy Fawkes effigies.
National Love Your Red Hair Day celebrates natural red hair in every shade, from strawberry blond to deep auburn. The day is also listed as National Redhead Day, and both names describe the same observance.
American Football Day is a day for the game, the tailgates and the fans, whether you are watching college ball or the pros.
National Men Make Dinner Day falls on the first Thursday in November in 2026, so men take over the kitchen. The rules are simple: men must cook, and there is no barbecue.
National Donut Day (November) is the second donut day of the year, a fall celebration of glazed, filled and cake donuts.
National Chinese Takeout Day celebrates American Chinese cuisine, with a takeout order for dinner on the menu.
International Stout Day falls on the first Thursday in November in 2026, honoring the dark, rich stout and its long brewing heritage.
International Project Management Day falls on the first Thursday in November in 2026, recognizing project managers and the discipline of keeping projects on track.
National Cash Back Day falls on the first Thursday in November in 2026, celebrating the money back on everyday purchases.
World Tsunami Awareness Day is a United Nations observance dedicated to tsunami preparedness and early warning.
Colón Day, in Panama, honors the city of Colón, Panama’s second city and the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.
World Day of Romani Language celebrates the Romani language and the culture and education of Romani communities around the world.
Featured holiday: Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night marks the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 every November 5. Early that morning, King James I learned that the plot to blow up Parliament had been uncovered: Guy Fawkes had been found in a cellar beneath the House of Lords, guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder. Parliament ordered an annual thanksgiving for the narrow escape, and the tradition grew from bonfires to fireworks to the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes. Today the night means organized displays in parks and fields, toffee apples and parkin cake, and the old rhyme: “Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.”
How to mark Bonfire Night
Attend an organized display rather than lighting your own fireworks; share toffee apples, parkin cake, jacket potatoes and hot soup; keep pets safe indoors during the fireworks; and take a moment to learn the story of the Gunpowder Plot behind the celebration.
This day in history: November 5
1556: The Second Battle of Panipat secures the throne of the young emperor Akbar.
1605: The Gunpowder Plot is foiled, and Britain still marks the day as Bonfire Night.
1733: John Peter Zenger publishes the New York Weekly Journal, a landmark in press freedom.
1872: Susan B. Anthony votes illegally, 48 years before American women won the vote.
1912: Woodrow Wilson is elected President in a landslide.
1940: Franklin Roosevelt wins a third term, an unprecedented feat no president had attempted before.
1968: Richard Nixon is elected President in one of the closest elections in US history.
Famous birthdays on November 5
Roy Rogers (1911), the King of the Cowboys, whose films and music made him a Western legend.
Vivien Leigh (1913), the British actress who won two Academy Awards, for Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire.
Art Garfunkel (1941), one half of the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.
Bryan Adams (1959), the Canadian singer-songwriter known for “Summer of ’69” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You.”
Tilda Swinton (1960), the Academy Award-winning English actress known for Orlando, Michael Clayton, and the Narnia films.
Sam Rockwell (1968), the Academy Award-winning American actor known for Three Billboards and Moon.
Virat Kohli (1988), the Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.
Related days
Yesterday: November 4 — National Candy Day, National Stress Awareness Day, King Tut Day.
Tomorrow: November 6 — National Nachos Day, Love Your Lawyer Day.
Browse the month: our November hub collects every day of the month in one place.