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Subject: [CON] Cornish Christmas queries circa 1881
Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 22:39:38 EST

Hi all,

The following extract is from the CD of "The Western Antiquary or a Devon &
Cornwall Note-Book" from 1881. These queries, answers and articles originally
appeared in the newspaper "The Weekly Mercury" and are chock full of not only
interesting facts, but also of much early genealogy of many Cornish & Devon
families.

CHRISTMAS IN CORNWALL.-

Can any of your
readers answer satisfactorily the fo1lowing queries? -

1. Is the Cornish "Christmas Bunch " so common in
cottages at Christmas-tide now a mere cheap imitation
of the "Christmas Tree," or a survival of an ancient
custom?

2. There seems a tradition of some of the Cornish
church towers being illuminated on Christmas-eve, is
the lighting up of the windows in some of our houses with
a Christmas bunch, &c., a sort of survival of this?

3. Is the putting up a triumphal arch of evergreens
and flag with a "Merry Christmas as a motto (which
I have seen in a Cornish fishing village), a modern, or
survival of an old, custom?

4. Does "guise-dancing" extend out of Penwith? It
is still usual around Penzance where not hindered by the
authorities.

5. Is the Cornish play of "Saint George and the
Turkish Knight -, still acted by the miners? I saw it
some fourteen years ago in a village near Liskeard.

These Christmas plays are of great interest to students
of folk-lore now. A very interesting paper was read
last session before the Folk Lore Society, and published
in the Folk Lore Record, upon the Dorsetshire Christ-
mas play. I believe the "Christmas Play" was re-
ferred to by the Cornish insurgents in the rebellion of
1549 against Edward VI.

6. Is "dancing round the candles ' at Yuletide common
out of Penwith? I have seen a basket filled with sand,
candles stuck in it, and the children dancing round it.
The appearance is that of a solemnization of the winter
solstice, as the Midsummer bonfire (still common, even
in 1881) is of the summer solstice.

7. Is the Twelfth cake still usual in Cornwall? I
think it still common in Devon, but I have not noticed
it in this County.

Newlyn. W. S. L. S.

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