Hot Pennies Day

About

Dating back to the 13th Century, Honiton’s Hot Pennies Ceremony remains unbroken for several hundred years, and still takes place on the first Tuesday after July 19th each year. This year the event will be held on Tuesday 25th July.  

The original celebrations involved the wealthy residents of Honiton throwing hot coins to peasants on the street below and enjoying watching them burn their fingers while trying to collect the change. In keeping with the tradition, every July the residents of Honiton take part in a similar celebration, throwing warm – not hot – coins into crowds of children below.

The first pennies of the event are thrown from the balcony of the former Assembly Rooms, above the Old Pannier Market, and then a procession follows the garlanded Pole to a number of pubs and public houses where ‘hot pennies’ are thrown to the gathered children.

The event will begin at 12 noon in the Old Pannier Market, The Town Cryer, accompanied by The Mayor and local dignitaries.