Cornish mythology Facts for Kids

The Merry Maidens stone circle at St Buryan

A celebration for St Piran's Day in Penzance

Cornish mythology is a collection of amazing stories, legends, and folk tales from the people of Cornwall, a county in the southwest of England. These stories are part of a larger family of Celtic mythology, sharing ancient roots with tales from Brittany in France and Wales. Many of these legends tell of a time long before Christianity came to Britain.

Cornish folklore is full of magical creatures like giants, mermaids, and mischievous piskies (also known as the 'pobel vean' or 'little folk'). These stories are still told today by storytellers who keep the magic alive. Many famous tales are set in Cornwall, including the adventure of Jack the Giant Killer. Cornwall is also famously linked to the legend of King Arthur, who was said to have been born at Tintagel castle.

A Land of Myth and Mystery
Magical Beings of Cornwall
- Giants
- Knockers
Famous Cornish Legends
King Arthur's Cornish Connections
Legends of the Land
- The Merry Maidens Stone Circle
- Spooky Stories and Superstitions
  - The Midnight Washerwomen
  - Cursed Blackberries
See also

A Land of Myth and Mystery

Because of its history, Cornwall shares many of its myths with its Celtic cousins in Brittany and Wales. Long ago, storytellers known as Bards would travel and share epic tales. Famous stories like the adventures of King Arthur and the romance of Tristan and Iseult are often set in the ancient lands of Cornwall.

The rugged Cornish coast, with its hidden coves and secret bays, was the perfect setting for tales of pirates and smugglers. For centuries, stories were told of daring smugglers who outsmarted the authorities to bring goods to the local fishing villages. These exciting adventures became a big part of Cornwall's folklore.

Magical Beings of Cornwall

Cornwall is said to be home to many legendary creatures. Stories about them might have started as ways to explain strange noises in the tin mines or the dramatic, rocky landscape.

Giants

According to legend, giants shaped much of Cornwall's landscape. They were said to have thrown huge granite boulders across Bodmin Moor and built the amazing island of St Michael's Mount. The famous story of Jack the Giant Killer features a brave Cornish boy who outsmarts the giant Cormoran.

Knockers

Knockers are small, gnome-like creatures believed to live deep inside Cornwall's tin mines. They are about two feet tall and dress like tiny miners. Knockers could be helpful by knocking on the walls of the mine to show miners where the best tin was. But they could also be mischievous, hiding tools and food. To stay on their good side, miners would leave them a small piece of food, like the crust of a Cornish pasty.

Famous Cornish Legends

The Lost Land of Lyonesse

One of Cornwall's most famous legends is the story of Lyonesse, a beautiful kingdom that was swallowed by the sea in a single night. Some say you can still hear the bells of its churches ringing from beneath the waves. This story might be an ancient memory of real floods that happened long ago. The Cornish name for St Michael's Mount is Karrek Loos y'n Koos, which means "the grey rock in the wood," suggesting the sea level was once much lower.

The Mermaid of Zennor

The 500-year-old mermaid carving on a bench in Zennor church

The village of Zennor has a beautiful and sad legend about a mermaid. A mysterious woman with a wonderful singing voice used to attend the Zennor church. A young man named Mathey Trewella fell in love with her and followed her down to the sea, never to be seen again. It was discovered she was a mermaid. Inside the church today, you can see a special wooden chair, carved over 500 years ago, with a picture of the mermaid on it.

Tom Bawcock's Eve

The lantern parade on Tom Bawcock's Eve in Mousehole

In the village of Mousehole, people celebrate a hero named Tom Bawcock. According to the legend, one winter a terrible storm lasted for weeks, and the villagers were starving because no fishing boats could go out. Tom Bawcock bravely sailed out into the storm and returned with a huge catch of fish, enough to feed everyone. To celebrate, the fish were baked into a giant pie called a Stargazy pie, with the fish heads poking through the crust and looking up at the stars. This event is still celebrated in Mousehole every December.

The Curse of the Doom Bar

The Doom Bar is a sandbank at the mouth of the River Camel which can be dangerous for ships. Legend says it was created by the Mermaid of Padstow. A sailor shot her, and with her dying breath, she cursed the harbour, creating the sandbank in a storm.

King Arthur's Cornish Connections

Cornwall is central to the legend of King Arthur. He was said to have been born at the dramatic cliff-top castle of Tintagel.

Another important place is Dozmary Pool, a mysterious lake on Bodmin Moor. Legend says this is the lake where Sir Bedivere threw Arthur's famous sword, Excalibur, to be caught by the hand of The Lady of the Lake.

Legends of the Land

The Merry Maidens Stone Circle

Cornwall has many ancient stone circles with strange legends. At St Buryan, there is a circle called the Merry Maidens. The story goes that nineteen young women were turned to stone for the crime of dancing on a Sunday. A short distance away stand two taller stones, known as The Pipers, who were the musicians that played for them. These types of stories, where people are turned to stone, are common for ancient sites in Cornwall.

Spooky Stories and Superstitions

The Midnight Washerwomen

A spooky Celtic legend tells of the Midnight Washerwomen, or Les Lavandières. They are said to be three old women seen late at night, washing sheets in a stream. If you see them, you must be careful. They might ask you to help them wring out the wet sheets. The legend says if you twist the sheets the wrong way, you could be pulled into the water. But if you twist them in the opposite direction to the washerwomen, they have to grant you three wishes.

Cursed Blackberries

An old legend says that you should not pick blackberries after Old Michaelmas Day (11 October). This is because on this day, Satan was thrown out of Heaven and fell into a blackberry bush. Angry, he cursed the brambles so that they would be unpleasant to eat after that date.

Cornish mythology facts for kids

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