With 20,000 people attending this event every year it would be impossible not to write about it. I've never witnessed a 'Burning the Clocks' event which, having lived in Brighton for two years is terrible since the event is absolutely massive. It sees about one thousand people gather with a giant number of paper and willow lanterns (there were a few flying about on Fireworks Night) parade through Brighton towards the Beach at which point they're burnt and a nice big fireworks display takes place.
The premise is thus:
"Burning the Clocks is an antidote to the excesses of the commercial Christmas. People gather 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. No lantern is better for its purpose than any other, all are unique to the maker and precious, but all are given up to be burnt to greet the lengthening days. The lantern makers invest their lanterns with their wishes, hopes, and fears and then pass them into the fire."
The parade assembles in New Road (avoid this spot if you're not a participant) and travels down from North Street to Bartholomews, East Street and Madeira Drive. If you don't fancy being sharing small roads with a mass of people on the route down then Madeira Drive is the best place to locate yourself.
There's a wonderful video of Indonesia breaking the sky lantern record from the BBC - watch it here.
Burning the Clocks starts at 6:30pm and it's free, so come.
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