Gun fired on anniversaries

The firing of the gun on anniversaries and on Napoleon's birthday became a fixed ceremonial practice on Animal Farm, transforming a spontaneous act of celebration into a calculated instrument of political theater. Originally established to commemorate the Rebellion and the Battle of the Cowshed, the gun's periodic discharge was gradually expanded to honor Napoleon personally, embedding the leader's cult within the farm's ritual calendar. The practice illustrates how the pigs repurposed a symbol of collective triumph to manufacture obedience, distract from material hardship, and project an image of unity and strength.

Origins and Establishment

The gun was first fired on October the twelfth, the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed, and on Midsummer Day, the anniversary of the Rebellion. These two dates were set immediately after the battle, when the animals decided to mount the gun at the foot of the Flagstaff like a piece of artillery and fire it twice a year. The gun itself had been Mr. Jones's, found lying in the mud after the human invaders were driven off, and a supply of cartridges was known to be in the farmhouse. The decision to fire it was part of the impromptu victory celebration, which also included running up the green flag and singing 'Beasts of England' several times. The gunfire thus began as an authentic expression of triumph, a way for the animals to mark their successful defense of the farm.

Expansion to Napoleon's Birthday

As Napoleon's personal authority grew, the ceremonial calendar expanded to include his birthday. It was announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday, in addition to the two existing anniversaries. This addition placed the leader's birth on the same ritual plane as the farm's founding events, subtly equating Napoleon's person with the Rebellion itself. The birthday firing became part of a broader pattern of personal glorification: Napoleon was now referred to as "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and the pigs invented titles such as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, and Ducklings' Friend. The gun's report on his birthday served as an audible reminder that the leader's life was a matter of public celebration.

Role in the Spontaneous Demonstrations

The gun was also integrated into the weekly Spontaneous Demonstrations that Napoleon commanded. Once a week, the animals would leave their work and march in military formation around the farm, with the pigs leading, then the horses, cows, sheep, and poultry, flanked by dogs and headed by Napoleon's black cockerel. On occasion, a shot was fired from the gun during these processions. The demonstrations, combined with songs, speeches, Squealer's lists of figures, the thunder of the gun, the crowing of the cockerel, and the fluttering of the flag, helped the animals forget that their bellies were empty, at least part of the time. The gunfire thus became a sensory component of a carefully orchestrated spectacle designed to generate enthusiasm and suppress discontent.

Use in Victory Celebrations

After the Battle of the Windmill, the gun was fired seven times in all to celebrate what Napoleon declared a great victory, even though the windmill had been destroyed by Frederick's explosives. The animals, weary and bleeding, heard the solemn booming of the gun as they limped back to the farm. Squealer insisted the gun was firing to celebrate their victory, and when Boxer questioned what victory meant when the windmill was gone, Squealer replied that they had driven the enemy off the sacred soil of Animal Farm. The gunfire, combined with Napoleon's congratulatory speech, the green flag flying, and a special gift of an apple to every animal, succeeded in making the animals feel that they had indeed won a great victory. The gun's sound was thus used to overwrite the reality of destruction with an official narrative of triumph.

Significance as a Ritual of Control

The gun-firing rule exemplifies how the pigs appropriated the symbols of the Rebellion to serve their own authority. What began as a genuine celebration of collective liberation became a scheduled ritual that reinforced the hierarchy: the gun was fired on dates chosen by the leadership, for purposes they defined, and at moments they deemed appropriate. The practice also served to distract from material deprivation—the animals were often hungry and cold, but the thunder of the gun, the fluttering of the flag, and the processions helped them forget their empty bellies. By embedding the gun's discharge in the ceremonial life of the farm, the pigs created a sensory experience that associated the regime with power, continuity, and victory, even when the actual conditions of the animals' lives contradicted that message.