This Winter Solstice event is 5 years old and involves the revival of recorded traditions in Cornwall but in particular, West Penwith. It originated as an idea to have an event in Penzance to ‘balance’ with the Midsummer’s Golowan Festival.

Reflecting the ‘death’ and ‘rebirth’ of the sun, Rivers of Fire are created, lantern-lit processions from different areas of the town, meeting at the highest point, Lescudjack Hillfort, an ancient fortress site. Here, the community gathers to watch The Lord of Misrule light the beacon, fireplay, dancing, drumming and the magical, mischievous Turkey Rhubarb Band. The site is lit by natural light from numerous lanterns and torches, crafted in the previous week at community workshops.

All return to Chapel Street in one ‘River of Fire’ where the guising, music, acrobatics, singing and mayhem begins, masked and dressed in tattered or ‘mock posh’ attire, as recorded in the history books. Later, another band-led torch lit procession begins from the top of Chapel Street, leading to a lower beacon behind the Barbican for community dancing, music and the Chalking of the Mock ceremony.

And, in early December, Montol chairman, Simon Reed, said that Montol’s main event is shaping up nicely.

“Hundreds of musicians will join the main procession from St John’s Hall at 6pm including guests from all over Cornwall. We are very excited about this year’s event – despite financial pressures we are still very much on track to give the people of Penzance a fantastic celebration this year.

After the procession to Lescudjack Hillfort where the Montol beacon will be lit, Chapel Street will be closed to traffic.

There will be street entertainment from 10 local groups , including music, dance and circus acts while the Cornish dance group Kemysk will be playing in the Union Hotel from 8pm.

The Montol festival group would like to thank Arts Council South West, Feast and Penzance Town Council for their generous support this year.

Penglaz, the Cornish ‘Obby ‘Oss

Penglaz Pic: Cornish Witchcraft

Penglaz is the historical name traditionally associated with mast or pole style ‘Obby ‘Osses in the Penwith region of Cornwall. They are first described in the 19th century following mummers, dancers and guizers during the Christmas/Midwinter festive period. Modern Penglaz ‘Osses were revived in 1992. The original revived Penglaz was introduced by Cornish piper Merv Davey and appeared at Penzance’s newly revived Midsummer Golowan festival. The original Penglaz was later renamed and accompanies the traditional Cornish music group Pyba in their guizing performances.

The Penglaz Teazer role, introduced by Golowan in the 90′s, may in fact be a traditional one as the ‘Oss is recorded as having been lead by a ‘master’, there is even confusion amongst antiquarians whether it was this ‘master’ or the ‘Oss who originally bore the name Penglaz.

The tradition of Penglaz making an outing during the Midwinter period was revived in 2007 with modern Penglaz ‘Osses and their Teazers appearing at Penzance’s Midwinter Montol festival, with ferstival goers dressed in guize and mock-formal attire. Sadly, Penglaz ‘Osses made their last Montol appearances at the festival in 2009.

Sources:

This is Cornwall
Montol.co.uk
Cornish Witchcraft

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wizzard-Media-Celtic-Myth-Podshow/dp/B004W8QR58 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

King Arthur’s Stone Pic: Go This Place

The Cornish Guardian  in This is Cornwall reports that in July 2011, the Arthurian Centre at Slaughterbridge (Home of King Arthur’s Stone) near Camelford was holding two Living History Weekends on July 23 and 24 and August 13 and 14. The programme included dark age battle re-enactments, archery competitions, falconry display, demonstrations, storytelling and music.There was refreshment stalls and a beer tent.   You can visit the Arthurian Centre website and find out more details about the work they do.

The Arthurian Centre

The centre is located at Slaughterbridge near the medieval market town of Camelford (considered by some to be the site of Camelot) in North Cornwall, and set in 20 acres surrounding ‘King Arthur’s Stone’. Both the inscribed stone and battle are both dated by earliest stories to AD 540.

Visitors can walk through the fields where King Arthur and Mordred met for their last battle.

Read about the legends and the history in our exhibition room, watch a video presentation on the site and legends. There is something for everyone including brass rubbing, children’s quiz, a nature trail; gift shop and, for our smaller visitors, a play castle.

The Festival of British Archaeology

As part of the Festival of British Archaeology the centre hosted an archaeological dig until July 31. Students and tutors from Winchester University will continue to excavate a 13th-century abandoned village site as well as other interesting ‘targets’. Members of the public are welcome to visit and even join in (full training can be offered at extra cost).

The Arthurian Centre is dedicated to the history and legends of King Arthur. Slaughterbridge is the site of the last battle between Arthur and Mordred’s armies, the Battle of Camlann.

An inscribed memorial stone from the 6th-century marks the site of this event. Beautiful walks past the 12th-century excavation site lead to the stone and the recently discovered 18th-century garden created by Lady Falmouth.

The centre contains an extensive exhibition explaining the development of the Arthurian stories alongside Cornish history from the Bronze Age to the present era. The exhibition now also contains some original armour from the 1981 John Boorman film, Excalibur.

Battle re-enactments, archery, falconry display and demonstrations.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Description Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Appbrain at http://www.appbrain.com/app/celtic-myth-show/tv.wizzard.android.celticmythpodshow841 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Iglu Celtic Travel Awards Pic: Iglu Cruise

We are very proud to have received one of the prestigious Iglu Celtic Travel Awards. These awards are given to blogs that promote Celtic Travel and Tourism in a way that makes the reader stop and think. They appreciate the Celtic Lands for their Spirituality, Folklore or Customs or their Poetry, Prose or Faith. What a wonderful choice of blogs. Thank you very much Iglu for your Award. Following is what they say about the award and the other Award Winners which are most definitely well worth visiting – each offering a unique jewel in its own way.

” The Iglu Awards for this section has proven to be one of growth and appreciation. Sometimes the expansion of the self is through embracing art and prose that makes you stop and think. All these winning blogs did this in one way or another.

“Celtic travel isn’t something most people are familiar with. It’s popular in parts of the USA, but most people involved with the Celtic tourism industry are the people in Ireland, Wales and Scotland who cater for them in the Summer months. Thankfully, the Iglu team included some of these people and we were able to select the Celtic blogs which really spoke about the culture.

“It took us ages to find the right blogs for this category. We’ve tried to find the smartest, most intelligent blogs, rather than the ones with embedded music and animated .gifs of Celtic crosses. We reckon that this top ten list is the best of the best when it comes to Celtic tourism.”

Award Winners

• Celtic Myth Podshow
• Celtic Sprite
• Celtic Voices
• Celtic Culture
• Thin Places
• Thin Places Mystical Tour of Ireland
• Celtic_Writer
• Your Irish
• Scela
• Carl McColman

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Descripition Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Appbrain at http://www.appbrain.com/app/celtic-myth-show/tv.wizzard.android.celticmythpodshow841 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Sodabread Pic: veeighty8

Michael Williams from This is Cornwall writes superbly about some of the superstitions he has observed in Cornwall, starting from his own Grandmother, who lived in St. Austell who believed that the vast majority of Cornish people are superstitious, stemming from their Celtic background. She explained to him that many West Country housewives of her generation when baking made a cross on the dough in setting it to rise – the old folk were sure this protected them from any dark influences. She also warned him about the perils of walking on graves in graveyards.

He goes on to say:-

An old fisherman at Looe had something enlightening to say on the same animal: “If a black cat came on board your boat, especially if the cat came of its own accord, then that was considered a good omen.”

And apparently, in the old days, many fishermen’s wives kept a black cat as a pet in the hope this ensured their husbands returned home safely from sea.

As for dogs, Joan Rendell has some interesting theories: “If a strange dog comes to your house, that indicates a new friendship will be forged.

And if you meet a spotted dog like a Dalmatian on your way to a business appointment then things will go well for you.”

Returning to the positive, a farmer of the old school once offered this piece of advice: “If you are buying a cock for your poultry run, then choose a white cock rather than a black one. A white cock will bring good luck and protect that farm or homestead.”

Wild birds have long featured in the realm of fate and fortune. Sonia and I feed an increasing number in our cottage garden on the shoulder of this green-brown valley.

The best loved of them all has to be the robin and dire are the omens for anyone who injures or kills a robin. The robin too has long been regarded as “sacred” to the household gods, and William Blake spoke the truth when he wrote in his poem Auguries Of Innocence:

“A Robin Redbreast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.”

Moving out on to the landscape a whole range of superstition surrounds our trees. The Celts and the Druids believed the oak had magical qualities and bad luck would be the result for anyone who chopped it down.

In pagan times a marriage was often celebrated under an oak and for the bride and groom to embrace and dance under the tree was considered lucky. And where does the humble carrot fit into our catalogue of superstition?

The idea that eating carrots is good for our eyesight has been in vogue for generations and, at a time when we have recently been remembering the heroic efforts of the RAF in the second war, it’s interesting to reflect the Ministry of Information then publicised the fact that British pilots were on a carrot diet thereby improving their night flying.

But in reality the success rate of the RAF at night was largely reinforced by the invention of radar: the carrot propaganda a cover.

Read the full article at This is Cornwall for many more such superstitions that Michael has superbly written about.

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Descripition Page.
You can now also find an Android version of the App which works identically to the iPhone version. You can find it on Appbrain at http://www.appbrain.com/app/celtic-myth-show/tv.wizzard.android.celticmythpodshow841 or by using the QR code opposite.
If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Cornish Crafts Pic: Kenra Craft

June 18th, 19th & 20th Crasken Farm, Helston , Cornwall. Medieval Fayre, Hog Roast, Amazing Stalls, People, Sponsored by Haunted Cornwall. Tarot, Aura Imaging, Witchcraft, Crystals, Healing. Live Bands, Ale Tent………. See you there……………..

Sponsored by Haunted Cornwall

They say:

We are professional and experienced event organisers, incorporating the companies HAUNTED CORNWALL & HAUNTING EXPERIENCES. We have been operating paranormally based events since 1999, long before a lot of recent companies jumped on the bandwagon.

Our ghost walks, nights and other events are fun, professional, informative and enjoyable… that’s why the vast majority of our customers come back time and time again.

Rest assured that, unlike many “ghosthunting” companies, we do not adopt silly gimmicks or sensationalism and give our customers plenty of opportunity to experience locations under a genuine environment.

Haunted Cornwall

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You can also now download a Celtic Myth Podshow App from the iTunes store. This is the most convenient and reliable way to access the Celtic Myth Podshow on your iPhone or iPod Touch. You’re always connected to the latest episode, and our App users have access to exclusive bonus content, just touch and play! To find out more visit the iTunes Store or our Descripition Page.

If you come to the site and listen or listen from one of our players – have you considered subscribing? It’s easy and you automatically get the episodes on your computer when they come out. If you’re unsure about the whole RSS/Subscribing thing take a look at our Help page.

Originally posted 2010-06-10 23:00:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pic: The BS Report

Labour and Conservative MPs united to keep ‘Cornish’ off the 2011 census last night, as the Government voted down a proposal from North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, to have it included, Cornwall 24 reported on the 4th December. Mr Rogerson said the Cornish national identity should be recognised with a tickbox, just as the Scottish, Welsh, English and Northern Irish identities will be.

He tabled an amendment to the legislation which enables the census to happen, and gained backing for his initiative from the Liberal Democrat leadership. Labour MPs voted against, while Conservatives sat on their hands.

Commenting, Mr Rogerson said:

Cornish is an identity of its own, distinct from that of the English, and it should be recognised as such. We have already made progress by getting the Government to ‘code’ any answers where a citizen writes that their national identity is Cornish, but this will still vastly underestimate the number of Cornish people since many will simply tick ‘British’ or ‘English’.

It makes sense to include a tickbox, so that every Cornish person makes their identity known.

Andrew George, MP for the West Cornwall constituency of St Ives and the Isles of Scilly added:

We made an important and useful step forward at the last census in 2001. We should recognise and celebrate the different groups, identities and peoples of the world. Cornwall wants to put itself into the celebration of diversity. Not cut itself off.

Read the full article on Cornwall 24.

Originally posted 2010-01-02 08:01:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pic: Amazon

Henry Jenner, who describes himself as a member of the Gorsedd of Bards of Brittany, wrote this book back in 1904. We are privileged to have access to this classic work on the the Cornish language courtesy of Project Gutenberg. About it, he says: This book is principally intended for those persons of Cornish nationality who wish to acquire some knowledge of their ancient tongue, and to read, write, and perhaps even to speak it. Its aim is to represent in an intelligible form the Cornish of the later period…

Henry Jenner FSA (1848-1934) was a Celtic scholar, Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival. As a small boy at St. Columb, his birthplace, he heard at the table some talk about a Cornish language. At the first pause in their talk he put his query…”But is there really a Cornish Language? “. In 1874 he continued his interest in Celtic languages, and in 1875 he read a paper to the Philological Society in London, his subject being the Manx language.

The following year he read another paper on the subject of the Cornish language at Mount’s Bay. In 1877 he discovered, whilst working in the British Museum, forty two lines of a medieval play written in Cornish around the year 1450. In 1903 he was made Bard of the Breton Gorsedd, and he founded the first Cornish language society, “Cowethas Kelto- Kernuak”. Shortly afterwards he published his Handbook of the Cornish Language and the Cornish Revival was born. His version of Cornish was based upon the form of the language used in West Cornwall in the 18th century.

Not only do we have an excellent grammar here, but he also gives some notes on the history of the language. He answers the question: Why should we learn Cornish?

The reason why a Cornishman should learn Cornish, the outward and audible sign of his separate nationality, is sentimental, and not in the least practical, and if everything sentimental were banished from it, the world would not be as pleasant a place as it is.

And we can’t say fairer than that!

Pic: Designs of Tattoos

Early Celtic people were famous for their skills and talent in artwork of metal, jewelry, and even weapons. Throughout Ireland, there are many evidence of Celtic artwork and Celtic crosses. The Celtics are also well known for being warriors and regarded as fierce fighters by the Romans.

Throughout the years, modern Celtics evolved and established symbols for themselves along the way. They often wear these symbols to let others know that they are of Celtic descent. Despite very little written history that time, the symbols and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation. Tattooing is one art form that immortalize these symbols to keep the Celtic tradition alive with the infamous Celtic cross, Celtic knots and other popular Celtic art.

The Celtic Cross is a symbol of Christianity so as a tattoo design it is a visual representation of faith and heritage. During the early days, it was used as a symbol of protection and territoriality across Europe. The intricate Celtic knot featuring loops with no end symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. The pure and detailed knot tattoo designs are normally never ending, unless an individual adds an end to symbolize a spiral. These knots have a much deeper meaning in that they represent the repeated crossing of both physical and spiritual elements. The strands are symbols of life, love and faith. Celtic tattoos are also used to express one’s origin; that is, he is of Celtic descent like the Irish, Scots or Welsh,

Celtic tattoos are complex and contains a lot of details like knots, spirals and mazes. If you opted to go for one, make sure that you choose a tattoo artist who can render this design skillfully. You do not want this tattoo to go wrong especially if it will be an expression of how proud you are of your heritage.

If you are looking for Celtic tattoo designs, check out Celtic Tattoos and Photos

Or you can go straight to our Tattoo Gallery to choose your own tattoo design.

Author: Marilen Kapchan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty

Pic: portableantiquities

Archaeologists, digging in the Iron Age earth of the Romano-British temple at Harlow, Middlesex, came across a gruesome reminder of Celtic religion in the shape of a coin. It showed the Iron Age chieftain Cunobelin on the obverse side, while on the reverse is the clear picture of a man, wearing an apron, but otherwise naked, holding aloft a human head.

There’s no question that there was the ‘Cult of the Severed Head,’ but we mustn’t be misled by Roman writers such as Strabo and Tacitus, the latter being otherwise fairly reliable. They both wrote about rites performed by the druids as being particularly bloodthirsty; human victims being stabbed in the back, and the Druids making divinations through their death throes.

Both these writers, and others as well, were writing for their readers. In other words, they wrote to titillate, to shock and to excite their Roman audiences, many of whom had appetites jaded from the sights they’d witnessed in the various arenas and circuses.

Certainly one of the most reliable of chroniclers was Caesar, but of course even he was guided by his Roman nature. Militarily, there was no-one to top him, but he did go a little bit off track with the druids. His readers, too, were urbane, so his writing does tend to be a bit coloured. However, he was certainly correct in reporting that the druids were powerful men, in authority in both religious and legal matters. He was right, as well, in saying that there was an arch-druid and that there were druidic schools where young men were taught what were, presumably, the mystic arts as well as the niceties of the law.

All this would be taught through word of mouth, since there was nothing written down in those times. If we look back to a previous article, we recall the feasts of Beltane and Samhain, to name but two. From whence did they come? They were ancient at the time of the druids, so it’s impossible to say what historical mists hid their origins. However, the severed head recurs time and again and was certainly some form of rite. It seems that it was considered by the Celts in the same light as we view the soul. Everything that made a person human resided in the head.

Water played a large part in Celtic and druidic lore. Skulls have very frequently been found close to, or actually in, water.

Skulls weren’t always associated with cults or religion. Celtic warriors were head-hunters who’d display the heads of their enemies above the gates of their hill-forts. A bloodthirsty relic was found at Stanwick in Yorkshire, the Brigantian stronghold. A skull with three wounds, one of which was fatal, had been hacked from the rest of the body at the fourth vertebra, and it still carried the pole on which it had been displayed. A sword and scabbard were found nearby.

There’s a growing belief among archaeologists that early Bronze Age Britain was ruled by a priestly caste that was responsible for the designs of the circles at Avebury, Stonehenge, Brodgar and Callanish. It’s suggested that this priesthood originated in Neolithic times and there are certain strong clues that the Celtic religion had its roots much earlier, in pre-history.

The oak tree was reverred by the druids, as was mistletoe. Pliny the Elder tells us that it was cut with a golden sickle by a white robed priest. After this, two bulls were sacrificed, all this done with great ceremony on the sixth day of the moon.

In conclusion, I think we have to assume that the religions of the Bronze and Iron Ages came from a time so distant in the mists of history, almost certainly from central and northern Europe

My thanks again to professor Lloyd Laing

This is Mike, delving into Celtic religion. I find it so fascinating to ponder on the origins of the Celtic religion, who was the priestly caste prior to the druids, and where did they come from? I do hope you found this article interesting. We’re working up to the chaotic period that ushered in Celtic barbarism at its worst. But more of this next time. Have you visited the Knight’s Site yet? If not, please try to take time to have look. I’m sure you’ll be interested in all that it has to offer.
http://www.theknightssite.com
mkbnd8@gmail.com

Author: Mike J. Bond
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

Toney Brooks, from Denver, Colorado, is author of ‘The Mystic Rose, Celtic Fire,’ which is available on Amazon. He is an authority on Celtic mythology and interpreter of 4,000 years of Western culture and history. Listen to his interview above on Blog Talk Radio.

A medieval sailing ship from the Celtic Otherworld begins the first of three dangerous missions. Joining the 21st century voyage into the shadowy mists of British folklore are Tobit, a Cornish boy, Amos, an angel in disguise, a pirate captain, Welsh faeries and the severed head of a Celtic warlord. Together they transport a shape-shifting bird from the graves of Avalon to a new life in Tintagel.

You can find this beautiful book on Amazon or its publisher’s website, Wessex Books.