Golowan Festival
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Golowan (sometimes also Goluan or Gol-Jowan) is the Cornish language word for the Midsummer celebrations in Cornwall, UK Widepsread prior to the late 19th century and most popular in the Penwith area and in particular Penzance and Newlyn. The celebrations were conducted from the 23rd of June (St Johns Eve) to the 28th of June (St Peters Eve) each year, St Peter's eve being the more popular in Cornish fishing communities. The celebrations were centred around the lighting of bonfires and fireworks and the performance of associated rituals. Since 1990 the Golowan festival in Penzance has revived many of these ancient customs and has grown to become a major arts and culture festival its central event 'Mazey day' now attracts tens of thousands of people to the Penzance area in late June.
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[edit] The historic festival
The ancient festival was first described by Dr William Borlase in 1754 in his book Antiquities of Cornwall.
| “ | "In Cornwall, the festival Fires, called Bonfires, are kindled on the Eve of St. John the Baptist and St. Peter's Day; and Midsummer is thence, in the Cornish tongue, called 'Goluan,' which signifies both light and rejoicing. At these Fires the Cornish attend with lighted torches, tarr'd and pitch'd at the end, and make their perambulations round their Fires, and go from village to village carrying their torches before them; and this is certainly the remains of the Druid superstition, for 'faces praeferre,' to carry lighted torches, was reckoned a kind of Gentilism, and as such particularly prohibited by the Gallick Councils: they were in the eye of the law 'accensores facularum,' and thought to sacrifice to the devil, and to deserve capital punishment." | ” |
[edit] Penzance
Penzance was one of the last examples of this practice in Cornwall until its prohibition by the Penzance Borough Council in the 1890s due to increased insurance premiums in the town and perceived fire risk. The celebrations themselves were centred around the lighting of fireworks, tar barrels , and torches on the evening of the 23rd of June every year (St John Eve). Towards to end of these festivities the local youths of the town would take part in the ancient serpent dance and jump or pass themselves through the dying embers of the flames. During these celebrations it was also usual to elect a Mock Mayor or Mayor of the quay. The day after these celebrations, a 'Midsummer's Day' fair took place on Penzance quay; boat rides and other entertainments were included in these celebrations. Two descriptions of the fire festival in Victorian times follow below.
| “ | In Penzance, and in nearly all the parishes of West Penwith, immediately after nightfall on the eves of St John and St Peter, the 23rd and 28th of June, lines of tar-barrels, occasionally broken by bonfires were simultaneously lighted in all the streets, whilst, at the same time, bonfires were kindled on all the cairns and hills around Mounts Bay, throwing the outlines in bold relief against the sky. | ” |
| “ | Then the villagers, linked in circles hand-in-hand, danced round them to preserve themselves against witchcraft, and when they burnt low, one person here and there detached himself from the rest and leaped through the flames to insure himself from some special evil. The old people counted these fires and drew a presage from them."At dusk the mayor of Penzance sent the town-crier through the streets to give notice that no fireworks were allowed to be let off in the town; but this was done simply that he should not be held responsible if any accident happened, for all in Penzance knew quite well that the law would be set at defiance. Large numbers of men women and boys came up soon after from the quay and lower parts of the town swinging immense torches around their heads; these were made of pieces of canvas about 2 feet square fastened in the middle either to a long pole or a strong chain, dipped until completely saturated in tar.Of course they required to be swung with great dexterity or the holder would have been burnt. The heat they gave out was something dreadful and the smoke suffocating." | ” |
[edit] St Peter's Eve
Porthleven and Newlyn in particular being the centre for much of the celebration of St Peter's tide because of St Peter's role as the patron Saint of fishermen. St Peters tide is still celebrated in Porthleven however in a far more muted fashion Porthleven Petertide. MA Courtney in her book Cornish Feasts and Feasten customs describes a delay to the Newlyn festivities in 1883 when the majority of the Newlyn fishing fleet were are sea returning to celebrate the fire festival many days after the actual event. Polperro is also believed to be the site of major St Peters Eve celebrations. Mevagissey feast which occurs around St Peters Eve continues to be celebrated.
[edit] St Just
The people of St Just in Penwith had there own particular practices, Lakes Parochial history of Cornwall (1868) states.
| “ | On Midsummer-day, in modern times, the inhabitants, of this parish were greeted with sounds resembling the discharge of musketry in different directions, proceeding from holes bored in rocks, which being charged with powder were exploded in succession; and on the same day a new flag was displayed on every mine, and the night was ushered in with noisy festivities, and bonfires blazing on many of the hills. | ” |
[edit] Similar festivals
Through out Europe there a similar fire festivals held on the 23rd and 24th of June. St. John's Eve in Ireland, Jāņi in Latvia and Saint Jonas' Festival are but a few examples. It seems that Golowan is just one example of a much wider Midsummer european tradition.
[edit] Modern Golowan Celebrations
The modern Golowan festival in Penzance started in 1990 as an attempt to revive many of the traditions stated above and has grown into one of the UK's most unique festivals. The core of the modern festival is 3 days known as Mazey Eve, Mazey Day and Quay Fair Day. Mazey Eve takes place around the harbour area of Penzance and includes a popular election of the 'Mayor of Quay' and a large firework display. The following day - Mazey Day is a large community and arts celebration. Artists, Schools and members of the public take part in a series of processions that include music, giant sculptures and variety of other artistic activities. Contributions from musicians and artists from the Celtic nations are a regular feature as are a variety of other musical contributions. Penzance itself during this day is decorated with large amounts of greenery - mirroring the practice in the town during the ancient festival. A large number of market stalls are also present throughout the town. Mazey Day attracts thousands of visitors to the area and has become an important symbol of the identity of town amongst local people. Quay Fair day is a celebration that is similar in many ways to 'Midsummer Fair' described in the ancient festival with the addition a popular street entertainment.
In November 2006 the Golowan Community Arts (The charity that opererates the modern festival) announced that it would be winding up due to a debt of over 39,000 pounds. Penzance town council has agreed to front attempts to deliver the festival in 2007. A new committee has been set up and plans for the 2007 festival are already well advanced. The ancient Golowan celebrations were also the inspiration for the Old Cornwall Societies midsummer bonfire celebrations. The bonfires extend in a chain from Kit Hill on the Devon border to Penwith.
[edit] See also
- St. John's Eve
- Midsummer
- Allantide
- Furry Dance
- Tom Bawcocks Eve
- Guise Dancing
- West Cornwall May Day Celebrations
[edit] External links
