Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve

Subject: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: Bristol Ted
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:20 PM

Seeing a recent thread on Cornish songs reminded me of one with this title. It tells of catching "seven sorts of fish" to save the village after a bad season. I think the area involved was Mousehole in Cornwall. Has anyone come across this before? Any news welcome.

Thanks.

Ted

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: MMario
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:41 PM

The night before Christmas Eve, legend has it, a fisherman called Tom Bawcock saved the village from starving by putting to sea in a storm and bring in a massive haul of fish. Tom Bawcock's Eve is celebrated by street processions, the serving of Star Gazey Pie (a large fish and potato pie with the fish heads and tails sticking out through the pastry) and heavy drinking.

sound like fun!

also: TOM BAWCOCK'S EVE

Mousehole is a particularly "merry place" to be on the evening of December 23. This is Tom Bawcock's Eve, celebrated in memory of a local fisherman, Tom Bawcock, who many years ago, during a Christmas period of terrible food shortages, went to sea in a lull between storms and returned with a healthy catch of "seven sorts of fish". From these, the villagers made Starry Gazey Pie, complete with fish heads protruding from the crust. On Bawcock's Eve today, local children parade through the village carrying brightly lit fish lanterns, and the pubs are very "merry places". The delightful book and animated film, "The Mousehole Cat", is based on the Tom Bawcock story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: MMario
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 03:25 PM

audio file here

url=http://www.boswarva.demon.co.uk/music.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: Bristol Ted
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 06:19 PM

Thanks very much MMario. Wonderful stuff and very useful. You mentioned the book and animated film - I would like to get hold of a copy of either if I can. Can you let me know where they are on sale?

Also, thanks for the website link to the "mine" of information, very grateful.

Ted

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 06:49 PM

Bristol Ted
Try Willow Books at St. Agnes
http://www.willowbooks.co.uk
The book is a Fiver for paperback and the video a Tenner.
Didn't make it this year (It's the other side of the bay from me)but it's a great evening, worth coming down for.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: Bristol Ted
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 11:30 AM

Thanks Kernow Jon. Thanks for the info. Sounds ike a good time is had by all. Will try and make it also!

Cheers.

Ted

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 09:57 PM

The note to the song on Brenda Wooten and Robert Bartlett 'Starry-Gazey Pie: Songs of Cornwall' Sentinel LP SENS 1031 comments that 'it has been suggested that the song has its origins in an old sun-worship feast held on December 25th in which the cock is the sacred herald of the sun and the fish the emblem of fertility - Bawcock being a corruption of Le Beau Coq'. Perhaps to be taken with a grain of salt.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: Bristol Ted
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 12:04 PM

Thaks Stewie. Never heard of that one! Very useful for background info. Thanks again.

Ted

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tom Bawcock's Eve
From: MartinRyan
Date: 10 Jan 01 - 12:27 PM

... of course, "Bawcock" could just be related to the Irish word "bacach" meaning "lame" - often used in nicknames!

Regards