CORNISH-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [CON] Cornish Christmas queries circa 1881
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 01:54:17 -0500

No answers from here, only a further question: What is a Christmas bunch?
I'd like to make one if it's home-makeable.
Ann Berry in North Carolina
On Sun, 8 Dec 2002 22:39:38 EST writes:
> 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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