when parliament met in january 1606 for the first time after the plot they passed an act of parliament called the "thanksgiving act". this made services and sermons commemorating the plot an annual feature on 5 november. the act remained in force until 1859. on 5 november 1605, it is said that the people of london celebrated the defeat of the plot with fires and street festivities. the tradition of marking the day with the ringing of church bells and bonfires started soon after the plot and fireworks were also included in some of the earliest celebrations. in britain the fifth of november is also called bonfire night, fireworks night or guy fawkes night.