The build up to Christmas can be quite a stressful time. I certainly feel like I have been into every shop in Brighton & Hove as I tried to decide what to buy for my Auntie Babs and my pet gecko Esmerelda (maybe I should ask fellow blogger Sarah for some tips on presents for one's furry or scaley friends).
Well, I am pleased to announce my Christmas shopping is now done and dusted, so all I need to do now is sit back and relax, open a box of chocolates and wait for the Queen's speech and a new pair of socks from Auntie Babs to slip through my letter box! But wait a minute.... How could I forget one of my favourite events of the festive season?! (No! I know what you are thinking, it's not spending 20 minutes sat on Santa's knees in his cosy little grotto in Churchill Square Shopping Centre! and pleading with him as I suck my dummy that I really, really do deserve a Learjet this year!) No, the event that gives me the most pleasure at this time of year is our very own Burning The Clocks!
Part Guy Fawkes Night, part Alice In Wonderland, this event truly is a wonderful antidote to the perils of seasonal shopping sprees and dodgy Christmas parties (where last year I ended up dancing semi naked to Slade's 'So Here it is Merry Christmas' and then spent an hour talking to my boss's clematis thinking that it was 'Janet from accounts' with a green wig on!).
Burning of the Clocks is in celebration of the Winter Solstice and the onset of longer hours of daylight again and comprises of a wonderful lantern parade through The Lanes area of central Brighton. Most of the lantern bearers are children who have put the lanterns together themselves. It really is magical, seeing all the beaming faces of the children as they go on their luminous adventure, collectively meandering their way through the town centre like a giant glow worm. This year's events takes place on Friday 21st December, with the procession making its way along North Street at about 6:30pm, before heading into Ship Street, Bartholomews, East Street and then left along the seafront onto Madeira Drive.
The event culminates in the lanterns being burnt on a huge bonfire which is then followed by a wonderful fireworks display and the gentle murmer of the 'Ooohs' and 'Aaahhhs' as the crowd enjoy the pyrotechnic show in the sky!
The event does attract big crowds so for the best views, stand on Marine Parade from where you will get a great view of the procession's arrival and of the fireworks display.
So if you fancy clearing your head of Christmas jingles, TV advertising, stressful shops, then head down to the Burning of the Clocks event and fill your head with wonderful memories of this fantastic event! Then why not head to one of Brighton's 400 restaurants for a lovely dinner - some of them might even have some festive special offers!
Well I will sign off here, so it just leaves me to say I hope that you all have a great Christmas and a fabulous New Year! Just don't over do it on the sprouts! ;o)
Darren
x
Well, I am pleased to announce my Christmas shopping is now done and dusted, so all I need to do now is sit back and relax, open a box of chocolates and wait for the Queen's speech and a new pair of socks from Auntie Babs to slip through my letter box! But wait a minute.... How could I forget one of my favourite events of the festive season?! (No! I know what you are thinking, it's not spending 20 minutes sat on Santa's knees in his cosy little grotto in Churchill Square Shopping Centre! and pleading with him as I suck my dummy that I really, really do deserve a Learjet this year!) No, the event that gives me the most pleasure at this time of year is our very own Burning The Clocks!
Part Guy Fawkes Night, part Alice In Wonderland, this event truly is a wonderful antidote to the perils of seasonal shopping sprees and dodgy Christmas parties (where last year I ended up dancing semi naked to Slade's 'So Here it is Merry Christmas' and then spent an hour talking to my boss's clematis thinking that it was 'Janet from accounts' with a green wig on!).
Burning of the Clocks is in celebration of the Winter Solstice and the onset of longer hours of daylight again and comprises of a wonderful lantern parade through The Lanes area of central Brighton. Most of the lantern bearers are children who have put the lanterns together themselves. It really is magical, seeing all the beaming faces of the children as they go on their luminous adventure, collectively meandering their way through the town centre like a giant glow worm. This year's events takes place on Friday 21st December, with the procession making its way along North Street at about 6:30pm, before heading into Ship Street, Bartholomews, East Street and then left along the seafront onto Madeira Drive.
The event culminates in the lanterns being burnt on a huge bonfire which is then followed by a wonderful fireworks display and the gentle murmer of the 'Ooohs' and 'Aaahhhs' as the crowd enjoy the pyrotechnic show in the sky!
The event does attract big crowds so for the best views, stand on Marine Parade from where you will get a great view of the procession's arrival and of the fireworks display.
So if you fancy clearing your head of Christmas jingles, TV advertising, stressful shops, then head down to the Burning of the Clocks event and fill your head with wonderful memories of this fantastic event! Then why not head to one of Brighton's 400 restaurants for a lovely dinner - some of them might even have some festive special offers!
Well I will sign off here, so it just leaves me to say I hope that you all have a great Christmas and a fabulous New Year! Just don't over do it on the sprouts! ;o)
Darren
x
1 comment:
I went for the first time last year, which is rather lame as i have lived in Brighton for ages, but I can second the fact that the event is brilliant - truly unique...
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