Here's to brighter days

So, we made it. For the next six months, the days get longer every day. We've passed the solstice which means no more sunsets at a quarter to four again for the next year.

Unsurprisingly, the event is celebrated in Brighton. Any excuse for a party! Apparently the Burning The Clocks procession started while I was down here before. They were celebrating it's 15th Birthday this year. I guess it would have been in it's first year or two though, and even now, it's not that publicised. It's not quite as hectic as Lewes Fireworks but that's probably for the best. I don't think you'd get away with that level of health and safety risk in a town full of Christmas Shoppers, especially since you can't argue that you've got hundreds of years of history on your side. So it's all quite tame in comparison - a parade of people carrying paper lanterns painted as clocks which get thrown into a big cage on the beach which then gets lit with spectacular results:



As a new-ish tradition, I think it's pretty cool. There's no religious overtones (despite nearly every major religion celebrating some kind of festival around the winter solstice), and it manages to be family friendly without being too twee or alienating adults. And it culminates in burning stuff.

full set of pics here