Sussex Day

Sussex Day
Monument to St Richard of Chichester outside Chichester Cathedral
Also called	St Richard's Day
Observed by	Sussex
Date	16 June
Next time	16 June 2017 (2017-06-16)
Frequency	annual
Related to	St Richard of Chichester

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 and culture of Sussex.

The event takes place on St Richard's Day, the feast day of St Richard of Chichester, 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.

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.

In 2013, the Sussex Flag was flown in each of the six ancient Rapes, or sub-divisions of Sussex in the week running up to Sussex Day. 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.

Several other towns and villages across the county raise the Sussex Flag on 16 June, including Seaford, Newhaven, Shoreham and Worthing. At Newhaven and Petworth, the Sussex Charter is read out and "Sussex by the Sea", Sussex's unofficial county anthem, is sung. 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. Events to celebrate Sussex Day in 2013 were also held in the towns of Worthing and Bexhill-on-Sea.