Burning the Clocks
Encyclopedia
Burning the Clocks is winter solstice
festival that takes place each year in Brighton
, UK.
(willow canes) and white tissue paper, led by local bands with a carnival atmosphere. The procession makes its way through Brighton city centre to the seafront where the festivities culminate in a lantern bonfire, accompanied by fireworks. The costumes all include a clockface to represent the passing of time, although each year has a slight change of theme.
Same Sky, an arts initiative first organised the event with Brighton Co-op to commemorate the founding of the Co-operrative Movement, 150 years before. Brighton Co-op provided the finance for the firework display and Same Sky organised local schools producing the lanterns for the parade. They explain: "Burning the Clocks is an antidote to the excesses of the commercial Christmas. People gather together to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through their city and burn on the beach as a token for the end of the year ... The lantern makers become part of the show as they invest the lanterns with their wishes, hopes, and fears and then pass them into the fire. Same Sky are masters at creating new urban rituals to replace those traditional festivals that were lost in the dash to be new and non superstitious."
In 2000, Brighton Museum commissioned a costume from Same Sky artist Nikki Gunson. She created "Mother Time Keeper" and performed it in the parade before returning to the museum. Incidentally the festival took place on New Year's Eve' that year. Local colleges also participate; Sussex Downs College have been contributing since 1998 and, in a more traditional participation, enjoy seeing their work go up in flames.
In 2009, the event was suddenly cancelled in a "joint decision by Same Sky and Brighton & Hove City Council" in the "interests of public safety". This was because recent snow, and temperatures oscillating above and below 0 °C (with associated melting and refreezing of the snow cover) left the streets and pavements of Brighton slippery and unsuitable for the processions and anticipated crowds.
Winter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
festival that takes place each year in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, UK.
The celebration
Founded in 1993, the celebration centers round a procession of lanterns and costumes, made from withiesWithy
Withy or withe is a strong flexible willow stem that is typically used in thatching and for gardening. An advantage of using this type of material is said to be a greater resistance to woodworm....
(willow canes) and white tissue paper, led by local bands with a carnival atmosphere. The procession makes its way through Brighton city centre to the seafront where the festivities culminate in a lantern bonfire, accompanied by fireworks. The costumes all include a clockface to represent the passing of time, although each year has a slight change of theme.
Same Sky, an arts initiative first organised the event with Brighton Co-op to commemorate the founding of the Co-operrative Movement, 150 years before. Brighton Co-op provided the finance for the firework display and Same Sky organised local schools producing the lanterns for the parade. They explain: "Burning the Clocks is an antidote to the excesses of the commercial Christmas. People gather together to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through their city and burn on the beach as a token for the end of the year ... The lantern makers become part of the show as they invest the lanterns with their wishes, hopes, and fears and then pass them into the fire. Same Sky are masters at creating new urban rituals to replace those traditional festivals that were lost in the dash to be new and non superstitious."
In 2000, Brighton Museum commissioned a costume from Same Sky artist Nikki Gunson. She created "Mother Time Keeper" and performed it in the parade before returning to the museum. Incidentally the festival took place on New Year's Eve' that year. Local colleges also participate; Sussex Downs College have been contributing since 1998 and, in a more traditional participation, enjoy seeing their work go up in flames.
In 2009, the event was suddenly cancelled in a "joint decision by Same Sky and Brighton & Hove City Council" in the "interests of public safety". This was because recent snow, and temperatures oscillating above and below 0 °C (with associated melting and refreezing of the snow cover) left the streets and pavements of Brighton slippery and unsuitable for the processions and anticipated crowds.