Tom Bawcock’s Eve

There are certain times of year when I wish I still lived in Cornwall. The homesickness sets in around the first few weeks of May, for example (see here). And this time of year also brings on the urge to head for 'home'. Especially with Montol (see here) a couple of days ago in Penzance and Tom Bawcock's Eve being celebrated in Mousehole and Newlyn tonight.

According to local legend, the people of Mousehole were close to starving on the night before Christmas Eve. Fierce storms had kept the fleet moored in harbour and there was no fish to eat. But brave Tom Bawcock put to sea despite the danger and managed to land a fine catch. His act of heroism save dthe village and is commemorated annually. The story is re-enacted in the harbour, the streets are illuminated with the famous harbour lights, there is a lantern parade, and a special local delicacy called star gazey pie is served - a fish pie with a pastry crust through which a small school of fish gaze up at the diners and the heavens above. 

You’ll also hear a  song about Tom’s brave act. It starts like this:

'A merry place you may believe, 

Was Mouzel 'pon Tom Bawcock's Eve. 

To be there then who wud'n wesh, 

To sup o' seven sorts o' fesh.'  

I lived in nearby Penzance until I was 11 and we always went along to see the lights at Mousehole and Newlyn. 

I will confess, though, that for years I thought they were singing 'Tom Ballcock'. It was an honest mistake - there were no song sheets as everyone locally knows the song and it was decades before the internet. 

As I've said before, folk memory is long and Tom Bawcock supposedly performed his heroic deed in the 16th century.

How fantastic is it to still be celebrating him - and the entire Cornish fishing industry - some 500 years later.

Happy Tom Bawcock's Eve, folks!