Barking Bateria

One of the fascinating things about Britain is when you stumble across some seemingly unusual and odd rural ritual that continues despite its meaning and origin being shrouded in confusion

One of the most spectacular of these is the tradition in East Sussex, to not only celebrate 5th Nov with a bonfire and few fireworks, but to have two entire months of costumed processions lit with fire torches across the entire county, with almost all descending on Lewes (the county town) for the actual 5th

Add to this burning crosses (a traditional method of honouring martyrs), flaming tar barrels being dragged through the streets, fireworks being thrown at peoples feet, and burning effigies of the pope, and you realize you have stumbled upon a rare pocket of sensational tradition and ritual.

Almost every town and village in the East Sussex area has its own bonfire society, who march on one of the Saturday's approaching or following the 5th November itself, displaying the costume of the group of people they feel reflects them. Most affiliate to One of the six Lewes societies and march with them on the 5th, making one night a whole county celebration.

Lewes

Bonfire night in Sussex combined pagan festival of Halloween (or Samhain) with its celebration of fire and rebellion, with a verdant stressing of the anti-Catholic feelings roused by the 17 protestant martyrs burned to death in the town, and anger and retribution at local rich landowners abusing the people, all tied together with the celebration of King James I escape from the Catholic Assignation plot, still commemorated across the country today. But, as with many traditions, its now mainly just a good excuse to party!

The 6 major societies in Lewes:Cliffe, Waterloo, Borough, Southover, South Street and Commercial Square, join together for the 5th to be watched by over 100 000 spectators, before retiring to their HUGE bonfires, each bigger than a house, to release outstanding displays of thousands of fireworks that beautify the sky for hours.

Barking Bateria has been attending events for the last 7 or 8 years. We march In Hastings, in mid October, where our samba drumming has over the last few years completely changed the procession and inspired no less than 5 other drumming groups to emerge. We have also enjoyed Battle bonfire night a couple of years, where the village is most hospitable and the atmosphere is fantastic. In Lewes itself, we began as gatecrashers, before being invited to play with borough society for 4 years.

This year, 2005, saw the 400th anniversary of the gunpowder plot, and we decided to go on our own, and made a fantastic diversion for the masses that just could not get close enough to the procession, making a fantastic event even better! For pictures from this year, click here




	Sussex Bonfire Processions One of the fascinating things about Britain is when you stumble across some seemingly unusual and odd rural ritual that continues despite its meaning and origin being shrouded in confusion One of the most spectacular of these is the tradition in East Sussex, to not only celebrate 5th Nov with a bonfire and few fireworks, but to have two entire months of costumed processions lit with fire torches across the entire county, with almost all descending on Lewes (the county town) for the actual 5th Add to this burning crosses (a traditional method of honouring martyrs), flaming tar barrels being dragged through the streets, fireworks being thrown at peoples feet, and burning effigies of the pope, and you realize you have stumbled upon a rare pocket of sensational tradition and ritual. A tradition and ritual that Barking Bateria has become a part of. This arial photo shows three smaller, and one huge fire-torch lit procession simultaneously winding there way through the medievil streets of Lewes, to the individual bonfire sites. Almost every town and village in the East Sussex area has its own bonfire society, who march on one of the Saturday's approaching or following the 5th November itself, displaying the costume of the group of people they feel reflects them. Most affiliate to One of the six Lewes societies and march with them on the 5th, making one night a whole county celebration. Lewes Bonfire night in Sussex combined pagan festival of Halloween (or Samhain) with its celebration of fire and rebellion, with a verdant stressing of the anti-Catholic feelings roused by the 17 protestant martyrs burned to death in the town, and anger and retribution at local rich landowners abusing the people, all tied together with the celebration of King James I escape from the Catholic Assignation plot, still commemorated across the country today. But, as with many traditions, its now mainly just a good excuse to party! The 6 major societies in Lewes:Cliffe, Waterloo, Borough, Southover, South Street and Commercial Square, join together for the 5th to be watched by over 100 000 spectators, before retiring to their HUGE bonfires, each bigger than a house, to release outstanding displays of thousands of fireworks that beautify the sky for hours. Barking Bateria has been attending events for the last 7 or 8 years. We march In Hastings, in mid October, where our samba drumming has over the last few years completely changed the procession and inspired no less than 5 other drumming groups to emerge. We have also enjoyed Battle bonfire night a couple of years, where the village is most hospitable and the atmosphere is fantastic. In Lewes itself, we began as gatecrashers, before being invited to play with borough society for 4 years. This year, 2005, saw the 400th anniversary of the gunpowder plot, and we decided to go on our own, and made a fantastic diversion for the masses that just could not get close enough to the procession, making a fantastic event even better! For pictures from this year, click here