Old & New Cornish Christmas Carols
Cornish Carols - A Tradition For The World
Lostwithiel
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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. "
Each year the shop keepers of Lostwithiel dress as characters from Dickens' novels, and offer drinks and nibbles to both locals and visitors, and just like Grass Valley in California there is Cornish carol singing, bands, bellringing, hot chestnuts. The historical Duchy Palace is open courtesy of the Restormel Lodge of Freemasons who hold an open evening.
Fore Street, is alive to the sound of music and the Shops in the town remain open until 9pm
Festivities
are centred around St Bartholomew's church with music from the Town Band and St
Minver Band plus various groups of wandering minstrels.
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Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
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