Weekly spontaneous demonstrations

Under Napoleon's rule, the farm instituted a weekly ritual known as the Spontaneous Demonstration, designed to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. The animals would leave their work and march around the farm in military formation: pigs leading, then horses, cows, sheep, and poultry, with dogs flanking the procession and Napoleon's black cockerel at the head. Boxer and Clover always carried a green banner marked with the hoof and horn and the caption "Long live Comrade Napoleon!" The demonstration featured recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honor, a speech by Squealer detailing the latest increases in food production, and occasionally a shot from the gun. The sheep were the greatest devotees; if any animal complained that the event wasted time and meant standing in the cold, the sheep would drown out the objection with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad!" By and large, the animals enjoyed these celebrations, finding comfort in being reminded that they were their own masters and that their work was for their own benefit. The songs, processions, figures, gunfire, and fluttering flag allowed them to forget, at least temporarily, that their bellies were empty.

The Spontaneous Demonstration was part of a broader cult of personality that surrounded Napoleon. He was now invariably referred to as "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and in his speeches Squealer would praise Napoleon's wisdom, the goodness of his heart, and his deep love for all animals. Every successful achievement was credited to Napoleon—hens would remark that under his guidance they had laid five eggs in six days, and cows would thank his leadership for the excellent taste of the water. The demonstrations thus reinforced the notion that Napoleon's authority was absolute and benevolent, while effectively masking the growing inequality and deprivation on the farm.