Sussex Day

Last updated

Sussex Day
Chichester Cathedral and St Richard - geograph.org.uk - 229843.jpg
Monument to St Richard of Chichester outside Chichester Cathedral
Also calledSt Richard's Day
Observed byFlag of Sussex.svg  Sussex
Significance Feast day of St Richard of Chichester as patron saint of Sussex
CelebrationsCelebration and promotion of Sussex culture
Date 16 June
Next time16 June 2023 (2023-06-16)
FrequencyAnnual
First time16 June 2007

Sussex Day is the county day for the historic county of Sussex in southern England and is celebrated on 16 June each year to celebrate the rich heritage [1] and culture of Sussex. [2]

Contents

The event takes place on St Richard's Day, the feast day of St Richard of Chichester, [1] Sussex's patron saint. The date marks the anniversary of the translation of St Richard's body from its original burial place in the nave of Chichester Cathedral to an elaborate shrine at the cathedral on 16 June 1276. [3]

Significance

Sussex Day takes place on the feast day of St Richard, a medieval bishop of the diocese of Chichester, which covers Sussex. Henry III disagreed with Richard's election to the post of bishop and forbade anyone to house or feed Richard, who was forced to travel around Sussex entirely on foot. An ascetic and vegetarian, who refused to eat off silver, [4] Richard was known for his strong stance on usurers ('loan sharks' in the modern vernacular), corrupt clergy and "priests who mumbled the Mass". Popular in Sussex, his tomb in Chichester became a place of pilgrimage and prayer through the later Middle Ages in particular.

Origins

The idea of Sussex Day came from Worthing resident Ian Steedman who in 2006 suggested the idea to politician Henry Smith, at the time leader of West Sussex County Council. Smith liked the idea and West Sussex County Council officially recognised the day in 2007. [1]

Celebrations

Since 2013, the Sussex Flag is flown in each of the six ancient Rapes, or sub-divisions of Sussex in the week running up to Sussex Day. [5] The Sussex Martlets flag was hoisted over the Council House in Chichester, from Maltravers Street in Arundel, from St Nicholas’ Church in Bramber, from Lewes Castle, from St Nicholas’ Church in Pevensey, and from Hastings Castle; each representing their respective historic division of Sussex. The flag of St Richard is also flown on Sussex Day.

Several other towns and villages across the county raise the Sussex Flag on 16 June, including Peacehaven, Seaford, Newhaven, [6] Shoreham and Worthing. [7] The West Sussex village of Slindon also flies the flag. At Newhaven and Petworth, the Sussex Charter is read out [6] [8] and "Sussex by the Sea", Sussex's unofficial county anthem, [9] is sung. [6] [8] Events to celebrate Sussex culture often take place, as does enjoyment of Sussex food and drink, including Sussex beer and Sussex wine. [10] In 2013, at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton, an event took place celebrating Sussex culture including Sussex's buildings, stoolball, Sussex literature and history, as well as traditional Sussex music and food from Sussex. [11]

Sussex Charter

On Sussex Day, readings of the Sussex Charter have taken place at some towns in Sussex, including Crowborough, [12] Heathfield, [13] Newhaven [6] and Petworth. [8]

For all the people of the ancient kingdom of Sussex!
Let it be known: the 16 June of each and every year shall be known as Sussex Day.
Sussex day shall be celebrated according to the rites and traditions of Sussex.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for the maintenance of those boundaries that join to those of our neighbours.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for all the environs within those boundaries.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex shall recognise the inshore waters that lie inside a line drawn from Beachy Head, and extending to Selsey Bill as being, the Bay of Sussex.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex will undertake responsibility for the general well being of our neighbours.
Let it be known the people of Sussex shall be guardians of our wildlife.
Let it be known the people of Sussex will, through custom support all local business.
Finally, let it be known, as guardians of Sussex, we all know Sussex is Sussex … and Sussex won’t be druv!
In God we trust.
God Save the King!

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sussex</span> Historic county of England

Sussex, from the Old English Sūþsēaxe, is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English Channel, and divided for many purposes into the ceremonial counties of West Sussex and East Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England on the English Channel coast. It is bordered by Kent to the north and east, West Sussex to the west, and Surrey to the north-west. The largest settlement in East Sussex is the city of Brighton and Hove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Sussex</span> County of England

West Sussex is a county in South East England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the districts of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, and the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing. Covering an area of 1,991 square kilometres, West Sussex borders Hampshire to the west, Surrey to the north, and East Sussex to the east. The county town and only city in West Sussex is Chichester, located in the south-west of the county. In the 2011 census, West Sussex recorded a population of 806,900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowborough</span> Town in East Sussex, England

Crowborough is a town and civil parish in East Sussex, England, in the Weald at the edge of Ashdown Forest in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 33 miles (53 km) south of London. It had a population 20,607 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chichester District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Chichester is a local government district in West Sussex, England. Its council is based in the city of Chichester and the district also covers a large rural area to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Downs National Park</span> National park in South East England

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Sussex</span> Aspect of history

Sussex, from the Old English 'Sūþsēaxe', is a historic county in South East England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lodsworth</span> Human settlement in England

Lodsworth is a small village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It is situated between Midhurst and Petworth, half a mile north of the A272 road. It lies within the South Downs National Park, just to the north of the valley of the River Rother and a tributary stream the River Lod runs close to the east end of the village. The parish includes the settlements of Bexleyhill and Lickfold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lurgashall</span> Human settlement in England

Lurgashall is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, 6.5 km north west of Petworth, just inside the South Downs National Park. The population at the 2011 Census was 609.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocking, West Sussex</span> Human settlement in England

Cocking is a village, parish and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. The village is about three miles (5 km) south of Midhurst on the main A286 road to Chichester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Sussex</span> Overview of the geography of Sussex

Sussex is a historic county and cultural region in the south of England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, north-east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West Sussex and East Sussex and the city of Brighton and Hove. The city of Brighton & Hove was created a unitary authority in 1997, and was granted City status in 2000. Until then Chichester had been Sussex's only city. By convention, Chichester is Sussex's capital city and Lewes is Sussex's county town.

Sussex Marble is a fossiliferous freshwater limestone material which is prevalent in the Weald Clay of parts of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex in southeast England. It is also called Petworth Marble, Bethersden Marble or Laughton Stone in relation to villages where it was quarried, and another alternative name is winklestone. It is referred to as "marble" as it polishes very well, although it is not a true marble, geologically speaking, as it has not been subject to metamorphism. The matrix is made up of the shells of freshwater gastropods and viviparus winkles, similar to but larger than those making Purbeck Marble. The pale calcified remains of the shells are in a matrix of darker material. West Sussex has a good concentration of thin layers of Sussex Marble; beds typically measure no more than 1 foot (0.30 m) thick. There are often two beds—the lower formed of smaller-shelled gastropods than the upper—with a layer of calcareous clay between them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westdene</span> Human settlement in England

Westdene is an area of the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex. It is an affluent northern suburb of the city, west of Patcham, the A23 and the London to Brighton railway line, north of Withdean and northeast of West Blatchington. It is on the Brighton side of the historic parish boundary between Brighton and Hove and is served by Preston Park railway station. It is known for its greenery and woodland and is very close to the South Downs, from which it is separated by the Brighton Bypass, and was built on the slopes of two hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Sussex</span> Overview of the culture of Sussex

The culture of Sussex refers to the pattern of human activity and symbolism associated with Sussex and its people. It is informed by Sussex's history as an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, English county, diocese of the church and present-day cultural region.

The history of Christianity in Sussex includes all aspects of the Christianity in the region that is now Sussex from its introduction to the present day. Christianity is the most commonly practised religion in Sussex.

<i>David Bangs</i> British writer and conservationist

David Bangs is a field naturalist, social historian, public artist, author and conservationist. He has written extensively on the countryside management, both historically and present day in the English county of Sussex.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sussex Day". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Sussex Day". Sussex Living Magazine. June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Chichester Cathedral - its history and its art". Chichester Cathedral. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Seward, Desmond (1996). In Praise of Sussex. Westmeston, Sussex: Pomegranate Press.
  5. ↑ Garber, Michael (2 June 2013). "Sussex Flags Fly in the Run-up to Sussex Day, 16 June 2013". Association of British Counties. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Sussex Day to be celebrated in Newhaven". Sussex Express. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Flying the Flag on UK Government Buildings". Worthing Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Sussex Day in Petworth". Midhurst and Petworth Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Weeks, Marcus (2008). Sussex Music. Alfriston: Snake River Press. ISBN   978-1-906022-10-5.
  10. ↑ "Party on the prom day" (PDF). WSCC. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to Sussex Day 2013" (PDF) (PDF). Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Harris, Mary (16 June 2013). "Video: Oyez, Oyez - it's Sussex Day in Crowborough". Kent and Sussex Courier. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Annual Sussex Day Charter". Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.