Custom
Harwich Kitchel Throwing
A new mayor, an open window, and a rain of buns.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Historic Guildhall on Church Street
- Legend from
- Civic custom
- Best time
- Mayor-making day, mid-May
- Tone
- Light-hearted
Harwich Guildhall ahead, where each May the new mayor leans from a window and pelts the children with buns.
Harwich has made its mayors for more than 400 years, and the day ends in a shower of buns. After a ceremony at the Guildhall, councillors in blue robes and black bicorne hats walk to St Nicholas' Church for a service and then back along Church Street. The town crier announces the kitchel throwing. The new mayor and other dignitaries throw kitchels, small sweet buns rather like a fruity hot cross bun, from an upper window of the Guildhall to the crowd of children waiting below. In May 2025 Pam Morrison began her third term and threw the buns with the deputy mayor, the mayor consort and the High Steward.