Redruth Old Cornwall Society

Midsummer’s Eve Bonfire Celebration 

23^rd June 2008 at Pencoose Farm, Stithians  

The 2008 celebration will once again be held at Pencoose Farm, Stithians, by kind permission of Mr. Paul Gluyas who runs the 780 acre farm which has been in the family since the 1850’s, and dates from the 13^th century. Pencoose (Cornish – Pen cos) means “End of the Wood”. In 1278 it was called Broncoys, in 1561 Burncoys and in 1884 Burncoose before taking its present name of Pencoose.

The ceremony will start at approximately 9.30 p.m. but most people start to arrive at about 8 p.m. when there will be pasties & soft drinks etc. available. Below you can view a film of the 2007 ceremony by double clicking the film.

Midsummer’s Eve Bonfire

As daylight fades from the sky on Midsummer Eve and the deep shades of dusk settle over the Cornish countryside, bright yellow points of light may suddenly be seen to blaze forth from a number of hilltops scattered throughout the length and breadth of the county. These beacons comprise the chain of midsummer bonfires organised and lit each year by the Old Cornwall movement through the agency of its individual local societies and carried out in accordance with a very ancient custom. The practice of celebrating Midsummer Eve in such a fashion goes back to pagan times and by observing such practices a bond is formed between Cornish people of the present age and our distant Celtic forbears.

As a heathen festival, there can be no question but that these fires owe their origin to a form of sun worship and it is believed that at one time the ceremonies included burnt offerings sacrificed on Cornish hilltop altars. The fires held on Midsummer Eve would have celebrated the splendour of high summer, with the sun at the peak of its power and glory in the heavens, and promising ripeness to the maturing fruits and grain. They were supposed to bring a blessing on the crops; and animals, such as rabbits and pigs and sometimes criminals were sacrificed in the flames.

Later, the Church found itself faced with the alternatives of either suppressing these fires, or of adopting and adapting them for its own purposes. It generally chose the latter course and so the fires were allowed to continue, though they were now lit to celebrate the Eve of St. John. However, some of the old pagan features were still maintained, but in a disguised form, thus instead of having a human or animal sacrifice a wreath of symbolic herbs was cast into the fire.

The Midsummer fires continued for centuries from hilltops throughout Britain, but with the passage of time the fires died out over most of the country and were then confined to remote areas in the western part of Cornwall where it survived until the last quarter of the 19^th century.

The first Old Cornwall Society was formed at St. Ives in 1920 and it was there that the ceremonies were revived in 1929 and the celebrations spread to other Societies throughout the county.

The ceremony in Cornish and its translation into English, now consists of: -

            A prayer for the benediction of the Midsummer Fire

            Instructions by the Master of Ceremonies

            Casting of the flowers by the Lady of the Flowers

            Lighting of the fire

The flowers or herbs bound with coloured ribbons, are good and bad: -

            The good ones representing plants of known medicinal value.

            The bad ones – obnoxious weeds etc.

The colours of the ribbons are symbolical: -

            White – strength;

Green – knowledge or wisdom;

Blue – love;

Red – sacrifice;

Yellow – the sun.

Ron Opie, President of The Federation of Old Corwall Societies

Prayer for the Benediction

Pysadow Rak Benyga Tansys Golowan

A Arluth Jesu Cryst, an Golow Gwyr, Nep usy ow colowy

myns den a-dheffo aberth y’n bys-ma. Gwra benyega an 

Tansys-ma y’gan lowender a-vynnyn ynno gorra tan rag

enora Genesygeth Sen Jowan an Brysydher. Ha gront dhyn,

ha ny dre dhas ras golowys ha dyworth dha gerensa gans tan

may hyllyn dos dhyso, Nep a-ve kens-dervyvys gans an

 Ragresor sans-na avel Sylwyas an Bys, hag us trygys ha

kesregnyes gans an Tas a nef yn unsys an Spyrys Sans, prest

un Dew, trank hep worfen. AMEN

Geryow an Solempnyta

Herwyth usadow agan hendasow yn termynyow kens,

Ny ow cul aganTansys Golowan, hanneth yu cres an Haf.

Tan y’n cunys

Lemmyn gor uskys,

May tewo an Tansys

Y’n Hanow Dew!

Arlodhes an Blejyow

Otta kelmys yn-kemyskys

Blejyow, may fons-y cowl leskys,

Ha’n da, ha’n drok.

Re dartho an da myl egyn,

Glan re bo dyswres pup dregyn,

Yn tan, yn mok!

Towl lemmyn an Blejyow

Tan yn cunys

Gorraf desempys,

Re slanno an tansys

Dres lys plu!

of the Midsummer Bonfire

Lord Jesus Christ, the True Light, Who dost enlighten every

man that cometh into the world, do Thow bless this bonfire

which in our gladness we light to honour the nativity of Saint

John the Baptist and grant to us, being lighted to Thy grace,

and fired with Thy love, that we may come to Thee, Whom 

that Holy forerunner did announce beforehand as the Saviour

of the world. Who livest and reignest with the Father in

Heaven in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world

without end. AMEN

(M.C.) – According to the custom of our forefathers in days

of old – behold us making our midsummer bonfire, this night

 in the middle of summer.

 Now set the pyre

At once on fire

Let flame aspire – in God’s High Name.

(Lady of the Flowers) – In one bunch together bound

Flowers for burning here are found

Both good and ill.

Thousand fold let good seed spring,

Wicked weeds, fast withering,

Let this fire kill.

(M.C.) –

Now cast the flowers!

(Lighter of the fire) -      

I set the pyre

At once on fire,

Let flame aspire

Over many a parish!