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Old Cornwall Christmas Traditions

Cornish Carols - A Tradition For The World

16. Lostwithiel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to hear carol

Local singers Kescana made a Christmas CD in 2002 called "Nadelik - a Cornish Christmas.". The Cherry Tree Carol is an old Cornish carol and Merv Davy the Federation's music recorder has arranged this version from a fusion of three others. 

The coinage hall town of Lostwithiel has a history of mining stretching back hundreds if not thousands of years and December has been a time of celebration for most of that time. The miners of the area are said to have celebrated Picrous day.

Quiller Couch obligingly favours us with the following note on Picrous.day:— “The second Thursday before Christmas-day is a festival observed by the tinners of the district and known as Picrous.day. It is not at present marked by any distinctive ceremonies, but it is the occasion of a supper and much merry-making. The owner of the tin-stream contributes a shilling a man towards it. This is said to be the feast of the discovery of tin by a man named Picrous.  What truth there may be in the tradition of the first tinner, Picrous, it is now too late to discover, but the notion is worth recording. "

Robert Hunt the 19th century recorder of Folk-Lore gives us the following droll or story: -

ON the Thursday immediately preceding Christmas-tide (year not recorded) were assembled at "The Rising Sun" the captain and men of a Stream Work  in the Couse below. This Couse was a flat alluvial moor, broken by gigantic mole-hills, the work of many a generation of tinners. One was half inclined, on looking at the turmoiled ground, to believe with them that the tin grew in successive crops, for, after years of turning and searching, there was still enough left to give the landlord his dole, and to furnish wages to some dozen Streamers. This night was a festival observed in honour of one Picrous,  3 and intended to celebrate the discovery of tin on this day by a man of that name. The feast is still kept, though the observance has dwindled to a supper and its attendant merrymaking.

Our story has especially to do with the adventures of one of the party, John Sturtridge, who, well primed with ale, started on his homeward way for Luxulyan Church-town. John had got as far as Tregarden Down without any mishap worth recording, when, alas he happed upon a party of the little people, who were at their sports in the shelter of a huge granite boulder. Assailed by shouts of derisive laughter, he hastened on frightened and bewildered, but the Down, well known from early experience, became like ground untrodden, and after long trial no gate or stile was to be found. He was getting vexed, as well as puzzled, when a chorus of tiny voices shouted: "Ho I and away for Par Beach!" John repeated the shout, and was in an instant caught up, and in a twinkling found himself on the sands of Par. A brief dance, and the cry was given: "Ho! and away for Squire Tremain's cellar!" A repetition of the Piskie cry found John with his elfish companions in the cellars at Heligan, where was beer and wine galore. It need not be said that he availed himself of his opportunities. The mixture of all the good liquors so affected him that, alas! he forgot in time to catch up the next cry of "Ho! and away for Par Beach!" In the morning John was found by the butler, groping and tumbling among butts and barrels, very much muddled with the squire's good drink. His strange story, very incoherently told, was not credited by the squire, who committed him to jail for the burglary, and in due time he was convicted and sentenced to death.

The morning of his execution arrived; a large crowd had assembled, and John was standing under the gallows tree, when a commotion was observed in the crowd, and a little lady of commanding mien made her way through the opening throng to the scaffold. In a shrill, sweet voice, which John recognised, she cried: "Ho! and away for France!" which being replied to, he was rapt from the officers of justice, leaving them and the multitude mute with wonder and disappointment.

So on Lostwithiel's Dickensian Evening between 6:00pm to 9:00pm you are invited to join in the celebrations. This year will be bigger and better than ever with more music, more food and more good will.

If you're wondering what goes on, you're in for a treat, you'll find an old fashioned Victorian Style evening in our Christmas Tree lined streets, with all the local shopkeepers open and dressed up in period costume offering a warm welcome and those unusual gifts you won't find anywhere else and maybe some mulled wine to ward of the winter chill. You'll hear town bands playing and choirs singing carols and Christmas songs, bell ringers ringing, buskers busking, street entertainers entertaining you and an old fashioned children's roundabout. 

During the Advent period, homes and businesses around the town with windows overlooking the road set up special window displays with a numbered window, which are illuminated each evening like an Advent calendar.

The windows light up consecutively each evening from 1st to 24th of December; by Christmas Eve there are 24 different windows to see and enjoy as you walk through the town - a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

The Advent Window Trail has become an instrisic part of Christmas in Lostwithiel, enjoyed by both towns people and visitors.

On New Year's Eve a buzzing carnival parade takes place in the streets of Lostiwthiel to see in the New Year.

Starting at around 11.30pm outside the Kings Arms, the parade of Giants, drummers, pipers, carnival dancers and revellers makes its way down Fore Street, across the Medieval bridge and up Grenville Road to arrive at the Earl of Chatham around midnight. The parade then returns along the same route to finish with more music and dancing at the top of Fore Street.

 

 

 

 

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