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The Alverton’s Favourite Old Cornish Christmas Traditions

Join us as we turn our heads to the past and uncover the origins of some of our favourite old Cornish Christmas traditions this festive season.

Have you ever wondered how some of the more unusual Cornish Christmas traditions originated? From the spectacle of guise dancing and the story behind Stargazy Pie which can still be enjoyed today, to the long-lost pastime of giving gin and cake, we take a look at where some of our favourites started.

Guise Dancing

Guise dancing is a significant aspect of Cornish culture, originating from West Cornwall as an age-old tradition performed during the twelve days of Christmas. Though once banned due to concerns over anti-social behaviour, Guise dancers historically wore costumes and masks, going door to door to entertain with lively antics in exchange for food and money. In recent years, this Cornish custom has experienced a revival, with Guise dancers now taking a prominent role in Penzance’s Montol Festival—this time with a little less mischief…

📸  Ian Mayou Photography and Cornwall News Images

The Cornish Bush

The Cornish bush is a local take on the Christmas wreath, made by weaving holly, mistletoe, and ivy around a withy core, then decorating it with apples. With Pagan origins, it symbolizes new life and is hung indoors on December 20th. To fully embrace this tradition, you can top the wreath with a candle, light it that evening, and perform a small dance beneath it to honour the God of Light. And of course, the mistletoe serves its classic purpose as well!

Gin and Cake

In the past, Falmouth traders would show their appreciation to Christmas shoppers, particularly those from the lower classes, by offering them gin and cake in gratitude for their custom through the year. The gin was a local concoction made from two parts gin and one part black treacle. Sadly for today’s shoppers in Falmouth, this festive tradition has faded away, though I’m sure many would welcome a resurgence.

📸 Katie Bryson – Feeding Boys

Tom Bawcocks Eve

Tom Bawcock’s Eve, celebrated on December 23rd in the Cornish village of Mousehole, honours a local fisherman who, according to legend, saved the village from starvation during a harsh winter. After weeks of storms that prevented fishing, Tom bravely sailed into the treacherous seas and returned with a large catch, which the villagers baked into the famous ‘Stargazey Pie’, named for the fish heads poking through the crust. The festival, marked by a procession, festive lights, and the traditional pie, commemorates his courage and the community’s resilience.

📸 Rick Stein

Christmas Carols

Penzance-born Bodmin MP Davies Gilbert gave history a major Christmas gift by reviving the carol. After carols fell out of favour following the Puritans’ ban on Christmas in the 1640s, Gilbert called on those with good memories to share any carols they remembered. In 1822, he compiled them into a book named ‘Some Ancient Christmas Carols’. Thanks to Gilbert, carols regained popularity, even earning him recognition from the British Museum for his preservation efforts. In his book, he recalls his memories of Cornish Christmases back then: “In the evening, cakes were drawn hot from the oven; cyder or beer exhilarated the spirits in every house; and the singing of Carols was continued late into the night.”

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