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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]