Guy Fawkes was born in York, England in the 1570s and was called Guido Fawkes at birth but later went by Guy Fawkes. In 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament but was unsuccessful and was hanged for treason on January 31, 1606. Since then, the failed gunpowder plot has been commemorated annually on November 5th in the UK and other countries with bonfires, fireworks, and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes.