Tom Bawcock's Eve facts for kids
Tom Bawcock's Eve is a special yearly festival held on December 23. It takes place in the small fishing village of Mousehole, which is in Cornwall, England.
This festival celebrates and remembers a brave local hero named Tom Bawcock. The story says that Tom saved his village from a terrible famine. He went fishing in a very bad storm when no one else dared to. During this festival, people eat a unique dish called Stargazy pie. This pie is made with different kinds of fish, eggs, and potatoes. The fish heads often stick out of the top! Sometimes, there is also a fun lantern parade.
The Story Behind the Festival
The festival of Tom Bawcock's Eve is based on an old legend. Long ago, the village of Mousehole faced a severe famine. There was no food, and people were starving. A brave fisherman named Tom Bawcock decided to help. He went out to sea in a terrible storm, even though it was very dangerous.
Tom returned with a huge catch of fish. This amazing catch saved the people of Mousehole from starvation. The famous Stargazy pie is said to have been created to celebrate his return and the many fish he brought back.
The first written description of this festival was made in 1927. A writer named Robert Morton Nance wrote about it in a magazine called Old Cornwall. He described how the festival was celebrated around the early 1900s. The name "Bawcock" likely comes from an old English word meaning "fine fellow" or a "worthy person." So, Tom Bawcock might have been a symbolic name for any brave fisherman.
The Mousehole Cat Book
The popular children's book The Mousehole Cat was inspired by the traditions of Tom Bawcock's Eve. This book was written by Antonia Barber. It tells a story that connects to the festival and the brave actions of Tom Bawcock.
The book was so popular that it was even turned into a television show. It helped share the story of Tom Bawcock's Eve with many children.
Folk Music and Songs
There is a special folk song connected to Tom Bawcock's Eve. The words for this song were written by Robert Morton Nance in 1927. He used a traditional local tune called the 'Wedding March'. Nance observed the celebrations around the early 1900s, which inspired his song.
Here are the words to the song, showing the original old Cornish dialect and a modern English version:
| The original wording | The poem in modern English |
|---|---|
|
A merry plaas you may believe |
A merrier place you may believe |
Some of the old words in the song mean:
- 'Morgy' means Dogfish, a type of small shark.
- 'Lances' means Sand eels, which are small fish.
- 'Rauning' or 'Running' means hungry or ravenous.
- 'Scad' means Horse Mackerel, another type of fish.
- 'Fair Maids' means smoked Pilchards, which are small, oily fish.
- 'bra' thrusty jades' means brave, thirsty young women.
- 'Oozles' means throats.
- 'Clunk' means to swallow.
- 'Bumpers' means large glasses filled to the very top.
The song has been recorded by the famous Cornish singer Brenda Wootton. You can find it on several of her albums, including Piper's Folk (1968) and Starry Gazey Pie (1975).
