| Where: | Harwich, Essex at the Guildhall on Church Street |
| When: | 3rd Thursday in May (or occasionally another May Thursday- see Helpful Hints) |
| Time: | 11 am (see Helpful Hints) meeting followed by Church Service and Procession, then the Throwing |
Kichels are small spiced fruit buns which are made at the local bakers shop in Harwich especially for the event. It’s a charity scramble – the kichels are tossed from the upstairs windows of the Guildhall by the newly elected Mayor, to the crowd of children (and a few adults!) outside. The Throwing follows a meeting in the Guildhall and a short service at the nearby church.The custom dates back a few hundred years (though during wartime rationing the Mayor had to give out apples instead of cakes!). The kichels are neatly wrapped so even if they drop to the ground they are edible.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 it should be on Thursday May 15th (to be confirmed). It sometimes has to move a week to fit the participants’ other commitments, otherwise it’s on the 3rd Thursday in the month. Double check the time – it starts at 11 am with a meeting then the church service immediately after (at around 11.20-11.30) then the procession and throwing around noon.
Click here for the council website: http://www.harwichtowncouncil.co.uk
Hi Averil
I’ve checked with the council it certainly is…I’ve double checked around 12.15-12.30 for the throwing…mind you I’d still get at 12!
Thanks Ross! Yes, I sometimes add just a few minutes in the schedule as it’s always better to arrive a little early than just after the event.. 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil
The town council website advised the church service would start at 12 noon. We were walking up church Street approx 12.02 (long journey and unfavorable traffic) and someone was clearing away the cones – apparently it was at 11 and the whole ceremony was over 🙁
There is always next year I guess…
Thanks got the helpful info -I wonder why they moved the time but didn’t tell anyone?! I’ll put a note in Calendar Customs to alert visitors to the possibility of that happening again-thanks for sharing
Averil