Christmas Traditions

William Bottrell, writing in 1887 .

I suppose the time to which I refer is over forty years ago. After making up a large turf fire, for hot 'umers' (embers) and pure water are absolutely necessary in these divinations, the young people left the house in single file, to pull the rushes and gather the ivy-leaves by means of which they were to learn whether they were to be married, and to whom; and if any, or how many, of their friends were to die before the end of the year. On leaving and on returning each of these twelfth-night diviners touched the 'cravel' with the forehead and 'wished'. The cravel is the tree that preceded lintels in chimney corners, and its name from this custom may have been derived from 'to crave'. Had either of the party inadvertently broken the silence before the rushes and ivy-leaves had been procured they would all have been obliged to retrace their steps to the house and again touch the cravel; but this time all went well. When we came back those who wished to know their fate named the rushes in pairs, and placed them in the hot embers; one or two of the engaged couples being too shy to do this for themselves, their friends, amidst much laughing, did it for them. The manner in which the rushes burned showed if the young people were to be married to the person chosen or not; some of course burnt well, others parted, and one or two went out altogether. The couples that burnt smoothly were to be wedded, and the one named after the rush that lasted longest outlived the other. This settled, one ivy-leaf was thrown on the fire; the number of cracks it made was the number of years before the wedding would take place. Then two were placed on the hot ashes; the cracks they gave this time showed how many children the two would have. we then drew ivy-leaves named after present or absent friends through a wedding-ring, and put them into a basin of water which we left until the next morning. Those persons whose leaves had shriveled or turned black in the night were to die before the next Twelfth-tide, and those who were so unfortunate as to find their leaves spotted with red, by some violent death, unless a 'pellar' (wise man) could by his skill and incantations grant protection. These prophecies through superstition sometimes unluckily fulfilled themselves."

From Britton and Brayley's Devon and Cornwall.

On St. Stephen's-day, 26th December, before the days of gun-licences, every man or boy who could by any means get a gun went out shooting, and it was dangerous to walk the lanes. The custom is said to have had its origin in the legend of one of St. Stephen's guards being awakened by a bird just as his prisoner was going to escape. A similar practice prevailed in the neighbourhood of Penzance on "Feasten Monday", the day after Advent Sunday; but on that day I have never heard of any religious idea connected with it.

From Britton and Brayley's Devon and Cornwall.

In the week after Christmas-day a fair is held at Launceston (and also at Okehampton in Devonshire), called "giglet fair" (a "giglet or giglot" is a giddy young woman). It is principally attended by young people. "At this 'giglet market', or wife-market, the rustic swain was privileged with self-introduction to any of the nymphs around him, so that he had a good opportunity of choosing a suitable partner if tired of a single life." –

From Britton and Brayley's Devon and Cornwall.

There is one saint whose name is familiar to all in Cornwall, but whose sex is unknown. This saint has much to answer for; promises made, but never intended to be kept, are all to be fulfilled on next St. Tibb's-eve, a day that some folks say "falls between the old and the new year"; others describe it as one that comes "neither before nor after Christmas."

T. Q. Couch, Western Antiquary, September, 1883.

Parties are general in Cornwall on New Year's-eve to watch in the New Year and wish friends health and happiness; but I know of no peculiar customs, except that before retiring to rest the old women opened their Bibles at haphazard to find out their luck for the coming year. The text upon which the forefinger of the right hand rested was supposed to foretell the future. And money, generally a piece of silver, was placed on the threshold, to be brought in the first thing on the following day, that there might be no lack of it for the year. Nothing was ever-lent on New Year's-day, as little as possible taken out, but all that could be brought into the house. "I have even known the dust of the floor swept inwards." -

William Bottrell, Traditions, &c., West Cornwall, 2nd series.

There is a curious Christmas superstition connected with the Fogo, Vog, or Vow (local names for a cove) at Pendeen, in North St. Just. "At dawn on Christmas-day the spirit of the 'Vow'[1] has frequently been seen just within the entrance near the cove, in the form of a beautiful lady dressed in white, with a red rose in her mouth. There were persons living a few years since who had seen the fair but not less fearful vision; for disaster was sure to visit those who intruded on the spirit's morning airing." -

From Liskeard Bygones by Jack Haworth.

For centuries Cornish people have held that the Christmas Festivities should continue until the eve of Old Christmas Day, (6th January), after which all decorations are taken down. This date is also known as “Twelfth Night” and the custom is said to have been observed since the reign of Alfred. In those days a law was made with relation to holidays by which the twelve days after the nativity of our saviour were made festivals. During the reigns of Elizabeth 1st and James 1st the celebration of Twelfth Day was equal with Christmas Day, a festival throughout the land, and observe with pomp and ceremony in Universities, at Court, at the Temple and Lincolns and Grey’s Inns.

In a document dated 1562 appears the hospitable rites of St Stephen’s Day, St John’s Day and Twelfth day. They were ordered to be exactly alike and observed as such.

In the old days when superstitions were taken note of, one was on twelfth Day cattle should be fed a double ration of fodder and on failure to do so, the farmer would be overtaken with bad luck.

From Miss M. A. Courtney

Door-steps on New Year's-day were formerly sanded for good luck, because I suppose people coming into the house were sure to bring some of it in with them sticking to their feet.

From Miss M. A. Courtney

In a few remote districts on Christmas-eve children may be, after nightfall, occasionally (but rarely) found dancing around painted lighted candles placed in a box of sand. This custom was very general fifty years ago. The church towers, too, are sometimes illuminated. This of course, on the coast can only be done in very calm weather. The tower of Zennor church (Zennor is a village on the north coast of Cornwall, between St. Ives and St. Just) was lit up in 1883, for the first time since 1866.

From R. Edmonds

On Christmas-eve, in East as well as West Cornwall, poor women, sometimes as many as twenty in a party, call on their richer neighbours asking alms. This is "going a gooding".

From Miss M. A. Courtney

At Falmouth, the lower classes formerly expected from all the shopkeepers, of whom they bought any of their Christmas groceries, a slice of cake and a small glass of gin. Some of the oldest established trades people still observe this custom; but it will soon be a thing of the past.

Mr D Green Redruth.

When a young boy in the 1940’s I lived with the Harris family at Treloskan farm in Cury. A family tradition on Christmas morning was to take one of the Christmas puddings that were hanging from the beams in the dairy this was then sliced and served cold with sugar and clotted cream as part of the Breakfast.

East Cornwall Times on Saturday December the 17th 1859:-

“The inhabitants of Launceston and the public generally are respectfully informed that we the undersigned grocers of Launceston approving of the agreements of the tradesmen of the neighbouring towns do hereby unanimously agree to abolish the practise of giving what is usually called "Christmasing" the custom being very unsatisfactory.”

Signed: Doidge & Nicholls, Jos. Splittigue, J. T. Planse, J. Powell.

West Cornwall Grazette Wednesday 23rd Dec 1857

We are given to understand that the Penzance Amatuer Sax Horn Band intend to visit the residencies of the gentry of this town and neighbourhood on the evenings of the 24th & 25th, being Christmas eve
& Christmas day, to perform their various anthems and carols.
Conductor Thomas Thomas.

The Falmouth and Penryn Weekly Times. 18th December 1880

Germany can make the finest battle show
France the finest prattle show
And Cornwall the finest Cattle show.

But too many of these, crowding one upon the other just at christmas time is not wise. Just now cattle shows seem all the rage. Prodding fat bullocks has been the chief occupation in many parts of the county for the last fortnight. Every town seems to vie with the other nearest town as to which shall produce the biggest exhibition of bullocks, sheep and pigs. In a little county like ours there is always fear of this kind of thing being overdone. We are not central enough to draw neighbours, and, consequently, a few cattle shows at various points of
the peninsula, well managed, and carefully arranged as to dates would answer the purpose of cattle exhibits far better than a larg number crowding one upon the other.

The Launceston Weekly News, 23rd Dec 1865

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS CHEAP TRAINS!

To the Editor of the Launceston Weekly News.

Sir, - During this week hand bills have been placarded about this town by the Launceston and South Devon Railway Company, stating that it was their intention during the Christmas holidays to run cheap trains
between this place and Plymouth &c., If they call it cheap trains, I do not , nor would any other person in a rational state of mind. On sending a boy down to know what was the fare for travelling by those so called “cheap trains”, he came back with the astonishing intelligence Seven Shillings and Sixpence! ! at the same time stating
that they did not issue third class return tickets for the “cheap Trains” That is what I suppose they call giving people of Launceston a “cheap ride" but on a rather dear system. I wonder what they think the Launceston people are? The ordinary fare to Plymouth and back is only 5s. 10d., and who do they suppose is foolish enough as to pay them 7s.6d. for a return ticket when they can go and stop as long as they please for the ordinary fare. –

Yours, &c.
“CHEAP TRAINS”

CHRISTMAS AT St IVES 31ST Dec 1892

On Christmas eve and morning, and again on Sunday night, there was much noisy and at times rowdy behavior in the streets. The carol singers with very few exceptions was of a most indifferent character. The sacred story of “Christ is born in Bethlehem” was shouted through our public thoroughfares in an unmusical, irreverent and at times profane manner.

The Falmouth and Penryn Weekly Times. 25th December 1880

Fish, Tin & Copper.
Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,
Christus natus hodie; &c.

As our little periodical reaches the homes of our readers, the sounds of Christmas preparations will be predominant. It is not easy to makethe festive season an old fashioned one. We go so fast now, what with
our electric telegraph, our telephonic connection, our steam, we cannot, if we would be quite to awfully old fashioned. Still we try our best. We hand the mistletoe, and decorate our houses with the holly, the fir, myrtle, laurel, &c., and sit before and around the biggest fire we can manage on out hearths, and while toasting our toes
we toast each other and wish present and absent friends A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Pendennis.

Celebrations

Miss M. A. Courtney

Many elderly people at the beginning of the present century still kept the "old style", and held their Christmas-day on Epiphany. On the eve of that day they said "the cattle in the fields and stalls never lay down, but at midnight turned their faces to the east and fell on their knees." Twelfth-day (old Christmas-day) was a time of general feasting and merriment. Into the Twelfth-day cake were put a wedding-ring, a sixpence and a thimble. It was cut into as many portions as there were guests; the person who found the wedding-ring in his (or her) portion would be married before the year was out; the holder of the thimble would never be married, and the one that got the sixpence would die rich.

T. (North Hill).. Old Cornwall Magazine 1938 Christmas on the Moor :

F.B. told me that when a boy he lived on one of the moorland farms. Those were the days when Christmas was kept up in a good old style by moorland farmers. who visited each other in turn at their parties. “I mm’,” said he, “ow us used to ev Chresmiss in they days. Us wud go wan plaice, then another plaice. One plaice was at Bastreet, ole M.’s varm. E’d maike ‘aste and get ‘is vrashin’ done, and then ‘e’d get ‘is barn cleared out, all ready for the party, as the varm kitchen was tu smal’. They’d range the zacks round be the walls and they’d make purty zaits, tu zit on. There wud be dancin’ and all zorts there gain on.” He also told how once a girl who was dancing had the misfortune to dance on a rotten part of the barn floor, and it gave away. One leg went through and she found herself standing on the back of a cow beneath!