Christmas Traditions

Cornish Christmas Traditions

MUSIC: In those twelve days

After the midnight supper, at which in one village in the extreme West a pie of four-and-twenty blackbirds always appeared, many spells to forecast the future were practised. The following account of them was given to me by a friend. He says - "I engaged in them once at Sennen (the village at the Land's End) with a lot of girls, but as my object was only to spoil sport and make the girls laugh or speak, it was not quite satisfactory. I suppose the time to which I refer is over forty years ago. After making up a large turf fire, for hot 'umers' (embers) and pure water are absolutely necessary in these divinations, the young people left the house in single file, to pull the rushes and gather the ivy-leaves by means of which they were to learn whether they were to be married, and to whom; and if any, or how many, of their friends were to die before the end of the year. On leaving and on returning each of these twelfth-night diviners touched the 'cravel' with the forehead and 'wished'. The cravel is the tree that preceded lintels in chimney corners, and its name from this custom may have been derived from 'to crave'. Had either of the party inadvertently broken the silence before the rushes and ivy-leaves had been procured they would all have been obliged to retrace their steps to the house and again touch the cravel; but this time all went well. When we came back those who wished to know their fate named the rushes in pairs, and placed them in the hot embers; one or two of the engaged couples being too shy to do this for themselves, their friends, amidst much laughing, did it for them. The manner in which the rushes burned showed if the young people were to be married to the person chosen or not; some of course burnt well, others parted, and one or two went out altogether. The couples that burnt smoothly were to be wedded, and the one named after the rush that lasted longest outlived the other. This settled, one ivy-leaf was thrown on the fire; the number of cracks it made was the number of years before the wedding would take place. Then two were placed on the hot ashes; the cracks they gave this time showed how many children the two would have. we then drew ivy-leaves named after present or absent friends through a wedding-ring, and put them into a basin of water which we left until the next morning. Those persons whose leaves had shriveled or turned black in the night were to die before the next Twelfth-tide, and those who were so unfortunate as to find their leaves spotted with red, by some violent death, unless a 'pellar' (wise man) could by his skill and incantations grant protection. These prophecies through superstition sometimes unluckily fulfilled themselves."

Miss M. A. Courtney

There is a curious Christmas superstition connected with the Fogo, Vog, or Vow (local names for a cove) at Pendeen, in North St. Just. "At dawn on Christmas-day the spirit of the 'Vow' has frequently been seen just within the entrance near the cove, in the form of a beautiful lady dressed in white, with a red rose in her mouth. There were persons living a few years since who had seen the fair but not less fearful vision; for disaster was sure to visit those who intruded on the spirit's morning airing." -

Bottrell, Traditions, &c., West Cornwall, 2nd series.

There is one saint whose name is familiar to all in Cornwall, but whose sex is unknown. This saint has much to answer for; promises made, but never intended to be kept, are all to be fulfilled on next St. Tibb's-eve, a day that some folks say "falls between the old and the new year"; others describe it as one that comes "neither before nor after Christmas." Parties are general in Cornwall on New Year's-eve to watch in the New Year and wish friends health and happiness; but I know of no peculiar customs, except that before retiring to rest the old women opened their Bibles at hap-hazard to find out their luck for the coming year. The text upon which the fore-finger of the right hand rested was supposed to foretell the future. And money, generally a piece of silver, was placed on the threshold, to be brought in the first thing on the following day, that there might be no lack of it for the year. Nothing was ever lent on New Year's-day, as little as possible taken out, but all that could be brought into the house. "I have even known the dust of the floor swept inwards." -

T. Q. Couch, Western Antiquary, September, 1883.

It was the practice of the Penzance butchers who had stalls in the old meat market to assemble outside the entrance at the close of day, on Christmas Eve, and render a fine selection of carols. Having regard to the standard of music in those days when there were no male voice choirs as at present, the singing by the Penzance butchers was very good indeed, and large crowds of people gathered around to hear them. Most of the villages in the neighbourhood could boast of excellent “Curl” parties. About 1860 the men and boys of the Mousehole Wesleyan Chapel choir always formed themselves into a carol party on the approach of Christmas. They were under the leadership of Richard Barnes who led the trebles with a violin. Mr Bond, of Newlyn, led the altos with a flute. James Harvey, the tenors with another violin, and George Barnes (father of the leader) led the basses with a bass viol. This choir left Mousehole at midnight on Christmas Eve and proceeded to Paul, After singing in the church-town they visited Trevithal, Halwyn and Reginnis in turn. At some of the houses they were invited to sing indoors, being regaled with Christmas cake and coffee; at others they were listened to from open windows.

From Old Penzance By Edgar A. Rees Pub.1956

In conversing with an old inhabitant of Ludgvan parish at Christmas-time in 1935 on the subject of Cornish Christmas carols, he told me in connection with “Hark What mean those Heavenly Voices“ a carol familiar to both of us, that when he was very young it was said that it was written “in very ancient times, soon after the Christian religion was brought to Cornwall”. He had heard that on the night our Saviour was born, the Mousehole fishermen were coming home from sea, when early in the morning while they were still some miles from land a very brilliant light shone all around them and as far as their eyes could see. At the same time they heard most wonderful singing in the sky and they were all very astonished. When they came home they spread the news of these happenings, and years afterwards when the first Christian teachers came, telling the story of the Babe of Bethlehem, the fishermen were quite satisfied to accept the teaching, because they had seen and heard that some great thing had happened.

W. D. WATSON. Old Cornwall Magazine 1937

Door-steps on New Year's-day were formerly sanded for good luck, because I suppose people coming into the house were sure to bring some of it in with them sticking to their feet. Many elderly people at the beginning of the present century still kept the "old style", and held their Christmas-day on Epiphany. On the eve of that day they said "the cattle in the fields and stalls never lay down, but at midnight turned their faces to the east and fell on their knees." Twelfth-day (old Christmas-day) was a time of general feasting and merriment. Into the Twelfth-day cake were put a wedding-ring, a sixpence and a thimble. It was cut into as many portions as there were guests; the person who found the wedding-ring in his (or her) portion would be married before the year was out; the holder of the thimble would never be married, and the one that got the sixpence would die rich.

Miss M. A. Courtney

On St. Stephen's-day, 26th December, before the days of gun-licences, every man or boy who could by any means get a gun went out shooting, and it was dangerous to walk the lanes. The custom is said to have had its origin in the legend of one of St. Stephen's guards being awakened by a bird just as his prisoner was going to escape. A similar practice prevailed in the neighbourhood of Penzance on "feasten Monday", the day after Advent Sunday; but on that day I have never heard of any religious idea connected with it. In the week after Christmas-day a fair is held at Launceston (and also at Okehampton in Devonshire), called "giglet fair" (a "giglet or giglot" is a giddy young woman). It is principally attended by young people. "At this 'giglet market', or wife-market, the rustic swain was privileged with self-introduction to any of the nymphs around him, so that he had a good opportunity of choosing a suitable partner if tired of a single life." -

Britton and Brayley's Devon and Cornwall.

On Christmas-eve, in East as well as West Cornwall, poor women, sometimes as many as twenty in a party, call on their richer neighbours asking alms. This is "going a gooding".

R. Edmonds

At Falmouth, the lower classes formerly expected from all the shopkeepers, of whom they bought any of their Christmas groceries, a slice of cake and a small glass of gin. Some of the oldest established tradespeople still observe this custom; but it will soon be a thing of the past.

Miss M. A. Courtney

The following notice appeared in the East Cornwall Times on Saturday December the 17th 1859:-

The inhabitants of Launceston and the public generally are respectfully inforned that we the undersigned grocers of Launceston approving of the agreements of the tradesmen of the neighbouring towns do hereby unanimously agree to abolish the practise of giving what is usually called "Christmasing" the custom being very unsatisfactory.

Signed: Doidge & Nicholls, Jos. Splittigue, J. T. Planse, J. Powell.

East Cornwall Times

Christmas on the Moor : F.B. told me that when a boy he lived on one of the moorland farms. Those were the days when Christmas was kept up in a good old style by moorland farmers. who visited each other in turn at their parties. “I mm’,” said he, “ow us used to ev Chresmiss in they days. Us wud go wan plaice, then another plaice. One plaice was at Bastreet, ole M.’s varm. E’d ma ike ‘aste and get ‘is vrash in’ done, and then ‘e’d get ‘is barn cleared out, all ready for the party, as the varm kitchen was tu smal’. They’d range the zacks round be the walls and they’d make purty zaits, tu zit on. There wud be dancin’ and all zorts there gain on.” He also told how once a girl who was dancing had the misfortune to dance on a rotten part of the barn floor, and it gave away. One leg went through and she found herself standing on the back of a cow beneath!

T. (North Hill).. Old Cornwall Magazine 1938

In many cases the fires of Christmas were continued until Twelfth Night or ‘Old Christmas Day’. It is recorded that about the year 1830 a number of Sennen farmers assembled on this occasion at a dinner, of which one of the dishes consisted of a ‘four-and-twenty blackbird pie After the feast, some of the boldest of the young men went out at midnight in order to see the cattle kneel, facing the east.On their return they brought with them rushes which they threw on to the fire, and from the way in which these crackled or the particular form which they assumed in burning they told their fortunes for the ensuing year.

It would certainly appear to be more than a coincidence that these ceremonial fires of midwinter should have so nearly corresponded with the season when the sun reaches its lowest elevation at noon, and, like the bonfires of midsummer, there is reason to suppose that they owed their origin to practices far older than the Christian festival with which they had become associated.

A.K. Hamilton Jenkins "Cornwall and its People" Pub.1934

For centuries Cornish people have held that the Christmas Festivities should continue until the eve of Old Christmas Day, (6^th January), after which all decorations are taken down. This date is also known as “Twelfth Night” and custom is said to have been observed since the reign of Alfred. In those days a law was made with relation to holidays by which the twelve days after the nativity of our saviour were made festivals. During the reigns of Elizabeth 1 and James 1 the celebration of Twelfth Day was equal with Christmas Day, a festival throughout the land, and observe with pomp and ceremony in Universities, at Court, at the Temple and Lincolns and Grey’s Inns.

In a document dated 1562 appears the hospitable rites of St Stephen’s Day, St John’s Day and Twelfth day. They were ordered to be exactly alike and observed as such.

In the old days when superstitions were taken note of, one was on twelfth Day cattle should be fed a double ration of fodder and on failure to do so, the farmer would be overtaken with bad luck.

From Liskeard Bygones by Jack Haworth.

In a few remote districts on Christmas-eve children may be, after nightfall, occasionally (but rarely) found dancing around painted lighted candles placed in a box of sand. This custom was very general fifty years ago. The church towers, too, are sometimes illuminated. This of course, on the coast can only be done in very calm weather. The tower of Zennor church (Zennor is a village on the north coast of Cornwall, between St. Ives and St. Just) was lit up in 1883, for the first time since 1866.

Miss M. A. Courtney

Christmas Bounty - On Christmas Eve, a fine fat bullock was distributed to the poor at Tywardreath, and one guinea to each of twenty-four poor widows, being the annual munificent donation of William Rashleigh, Esq., of Menabilly. On the evening of the same day, a sumptuous repast was provided at the mansion, to which the tradesmen and labourers on the estate, and the cottagers of Polkerris, with their wives and families, sat down and spent the evening in a style which reminded us of days "far by gone."

The "Goose Dancing", which formerly constituted so substantial a part of the Christmas revels at Scilly, has declined very much of late years, and has now scarcely a leg to stand on.

Bude - On Monday evening last, being old Christmas day, a subscription tea party, having for its object the promotion of temperance and sociability, was held in a suite of rooms in that commodious and well-known family house, once the favoured summer retreat of the Baronial family of Molesworth, the villa of Bude, built by the late Sir John Arscot, of Tet..t. The party, which consisted of nearly one hundred of the respectable inhabitants of Bude and its vicinity, began to assemble about five o'clock, and soon after six were served with tea and coffee in the large drawing-room fronting the sea, and the other rooms immediately adjoining. An ample provision of the usual accompaniments to this elegant repast had been made under the direction of Miss Browne, assisted by several ladies of the place, whose individual and united exertions to please were crowned with complete success, as the whole party appeared not only highly gratified, but it may truly be said that cheerfulness and the best feelings pervaded the whole assembly. Refreshments, consisting of twelfth-day cake, fruit, &c, were handed round in great abundance at intervals, during the evening; and a small band of excellent musicians were in attendance, and played a variety of pieces from the most eminent composers, in a style to draw forth the most rapturous applause of the assembled party. The hour of ten, the signal to break up, arrived much too soon for the company, who appeared to be in the full enjoyment of this first attempt at anything like a public coalescence of all sects and parties to spend an evening together in this pleasing and social way; and most, if not all of those present, have expressed their express desire to repeat it, at least annually, if not oftener. On the following evening, several of the aged poor of the place were regaled with what remained of the previous evening's entertainment.

West Briton Newspaper 3 January 1840, Friday

CHRISTMAS BALL. Green Bank Hotel, Falmouth. A Ball and Supper will take place at the above Hotel, on Wednesday the 21st December instant. Stewards - Capt. ELLICE, R.N., E. HULL, Esq., Capt. FITZGERALD, John KINSMAN, Esq., Lieut. PORTER, 67th Regt. Gentlemen's Tickets 7s. 6d. Ladies ditto 5s.

West Briton Newspaper 16 December 1842, Friday

CHRISTMAS BOUNTY. On the 21st instant, MRS. ANDREW, of Nansough, according to her annual custom, gave a shilling each to the poor of the parish of Ladock, and 6d. each to those of St. Erme. There were upwards of a hundred applicants from the former parish, and nearly thirty from the latter.

West Briton Newspaper 29 December 1843, Friday

FEAST FOR THE POOR. On Christmas-day, the poor in Truro workhouse were treated with a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, and a pint of beer each, which had been kindly provided by the private subscription of the gentlemen composing the board of guardians. Seventy-two persons sat down to dinner, the average of whose ages was upwards of 70 years. The inmates of Probus workhouse had a similar treat.

FALMOUTH. On Christmas=day, the poor in the town and parish work-house at Falmouth, were regaled with roast beef and plum pudding, in the presence of several ladies and gentlemen who went to see them partake of their treat. The fare was of the best description, and an extra allowance was given to each individual.

REDRUTH UNION HOUSE. The inmate paupers of this union were enabled to celebrate the Christmas in the most approved old English manner. The governor's family, consisting of 33 men, 120 women, and 150 children, after attending the chapel, in which service was performed by the REV. J. W. HAWKSLEY, sen., sat down to a dinner which very few gentlemen would wish to have to pay for every day - veritable mountains of beef and plum pudding, and streams of beer; beef of the best cuts, and plum pudding that really deserved to be called by that very respectable appellation, and not the mere lock jaw dumplings which, too frequently for the inmates of union-houses, usurp the honourable title. The paupers "ate and were filled," and were SATISFIED, moreover, and very grateful to the subscribers in general, at whose expense they had been feasted, especially to MR. ALLEN, the assistant clerk, to whose kind hearted exertions in the collection of subscriptions they were mainly indebted for their feast, and who had obtained money sufficient to give the paupers a tea on New-year's day. It has been a real, hearty, merry Christmas for the poor people; and it did one's heart good to see the happy faces of the company, and their industrious application in the business which had called them together, and to hear the merry carol which followed "the withdrawal of the cloth." The Rev's J. W. Hawksley, sen. and jun., and their ladies, and several respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, attended to witness the festivities.

TRURO PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. The children of these schools, to the number of 225, were assembled in St. Mary's church, on the afternoon of Christmas day. The services were commenced by the children singing a hymn; and after prayers had been read, the REV. W. W HARVEY questioned some of the classes on the catechism, &c., and affectionately admonished them as to the value of the instruction they received, their future attendance and behaviour at church, &c. The service was then concluded by the children singing "The Song of the Angels." From the church they proceeded to their school rooms, in Old Bridge-street, with their teachers and a number of ladies who were present at the examination, when each child was presented with a large plum cake. Smaller cakes were provided for those children who had been less attentive to their teachers, and irregular in their attendance; but it was pleasing to see that there were few offenders, especially among the girls. The children again sang a hymn, and retired to their homes, apparently highly delighted with their Christmas treat. Promises were made to the children that, where their good conduct entitled them to it, they should be rewarded at other periods of the year.

GRAND BALL AT PLYMOUTH. There was a grand ball at Elliott's Hotel, on Wednesday evening, the 20th instant, under the patronage of the Countess of Mount Edgcombe, which exhibited an unusual degree of splendour. Among the company present were Lady and Miss MOLESWORTH, besides many others of the first families of Cornwall and Devon, and the beautiful suite of rooms had an exceedingly gay and animated appearance. Dancing was kept up very spiritedly to a late hour.

West Briton Newspaper 16 December 1842, Friday

West Briton Newspaper 29 DECEMBER 1843, Friday

"NICK-A-NAN-NIGHT." To the Editor of the West Briton. Sir, - I regret very much that I have so long lost sight of that number of the West Briton in which Mr. J. COUCH requested some particulars from your Newport correspondent regarding the resemblance which I thought existed betwixt the "Mari Lwyd" of Wales, and the "Nick-a-nan-Night" of Cornwall. In conversing with a lady from Cornwall, a few days since, upon the subject, she informed me that she had seen a similar exhibition in St. Just. If this be the case, no doubt Mr. Couch will not fail to enquire into the circumstance.

The following observations may, perhaps, help Mr. C. to arrive at the conclusion I have reached, viz., that the Mari Lwyd and the Nick-a-nan-night have a common origin. The Mari Lwyd is one of the sports called sacred or religious, introduced under the highest papal authority in the middle ages. The name of the custom sufficiently and unanswerably indicates its popish origin, Mari Lwyd, or "Y fari Lwyd," literally meaning "the blessed Mary." It is a curious fact that the ancient Britons used terms signifying colour, to indicate a certain states of happiness or misery - thus, Duw Gwyn, i.e. white God, meaning the blessed God; Gwynfyd, i.e., white world, meaning happiness; and there is one instance in the writings of an old bard, wherein God is called Duw Lwyd, literally grey God, meaning the venerable God. The Mari, or Mary, Lwyd, is an ambulant drama, and a distorted remnant of some old Christmas mystery of the nativity. This, [......gn?] there is no direct evidence in the Welsh history of its truth, appears undeniable from the oral traditions respecting it, and the nature of the exhibition, as it always commences on Christmas-eve. The dramatis personae are as follows:- Mary Lwyd - The Pen-ceffyl- the Conductor - Musicians, &c., Mary Lwyd is a female character, represented by a lad dressed up in woman's attire in a grotesque style, who dances and capers about to the music, and by his odd appearance never fails to occasion great amusement. The Pen-ceffyl (which signifies horse's head) is a man dressed up as nearly resembling a horse as he can, or rather the fore-part of that animal, the hind-part being omitted for convenience. The man's body forms the brisket of the horse, whilst he has attached to his shoulders a horse's head and neck finely carved, and in many cases a real horse's head. This is covered with canvass, and made so as to contain the man's arms, by which he is enabled to move about the head in imitation of the action of a horse; and generally the performer enacts his part very cleverly. By candle-light, the general period of exhibition, it has a very ghostly appearance, and produces no small dismay amongst juvenile spectators. Attached to the head of the horse is a halter, held by another man, fantastically dressed, who leads the horse, and is continually reining him in to prevent his doing mischief, though sometimes the horse is very docile, and manages to make himself very amusing. This assemblage goes about from house to house, the object being, in addition to amusement, to get beer to drink, and to collect money. The rhymes sung on the occasion are generally sung in the Welsh tongue, but their literal meaning is to this effect:- The party - standing outside the door put one of their body forward to recite the challenge, or verses addressed to the inmates, and which they are to answer and excel, or the Mari Lwyd procession have a legitimate right to enter. The rhymes are rude enough, but go on to be-praise the master and mistress of the house for hospitality, and cite many good instances of the generosity of their accosters, and of the Welsh family in general, as incentives to the inmates to be profuse in their liberality on this occasion. They cite the customs of old, and wind up by saying or singing that if they are permitted to enter, "We will sing you a good song, This Christmas, this Christmas."

The responses - and they are but seldom made - must be in reply to the few arguments the invading party have advanced, and must nullify all they have said; and thus instances have been known where a clever and intelligent native may fairly keep the Mari Lwyd out to all intents and purposes. All this is, by some intelligent persons with whom I have conversed on the subject, supposed to be the remains of the old mumming common at Christmas, and that it was originally intended - in the days of papal mystery - to represent the scene in the stable at Bethlehem; Mari Lwyd being the Virgin Mary; the Pen-ceffyl, the horses in the stable; and the man who leads the horse being Joseph. It will be seen by what I have written, that there is little reason to think my first opinion was correct, viz., that it was a druidical observance; and if the few observations I have hastily thrown together, be of any service to the talented author of the paper which gave rise to this correspondence, it will be a high gratification to. Sir, Your obedient servant, J. MARSHALL SCOTT. Newport, South Wales, January 16, 1843.

West Briton Newspaper 20 Jauary 1843, Friday

SEASONAL BENEVOLENCE - On Saturday last, Matthew Moyle, Esq., of Chacewater, gave his annual donation of Ten Pounds to the poor widows of that place; in addition to which this truly philanthropic gentleman distributed during the past week betwixt Twenty and Thirty Pounds, to the poor families of his neighbourhood. On Monday, the inhabitants of Chacewater distributed one hundred bushels of coal among the poor.

ON Monday last, the carcases of two fine bullocks and six sheep, weighing together more than 3000 lbs., were distributed in upwards of 600 huts among the poor of the parish of St. Austell, the munificent donation of Sir. J.S.G. Sawle, Bart., of Penrice; and on Christmas-day, the poor in the workhouse were plentifully regaled with beef and plum-pudding, partly the gift of the Hon. Bart.

SEVEN hundred weight of beef, with a proportionate quantity of bread, have been this week distributed to the poor of Antony and Sheviock, by the order of W. P. Carew, Esq., of Antony House. Orders have also been given by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe for the distribution of the usual Christmas donations of meat, bread, and clothing.

CHRISTMAS SOUVENIR - At a period when the social sympathies are most predominant, and the genial influence of “home” is felt in the highest degree – more especially by “My young misses,” just arrived to spend her vacation at the “Old Hall” the most appropriate present become the first subject of consideration; a merely useful one can afford no evidence of taste, while a present possessing no claims to utility shows a want of judgment. To combine these requisites, we can hardly suggest a more fitting souvenir than Rowland’s Toilet Articles, the “MACASSAR”, “KALYDOR,” and “ODONTO,” which, from their beautifying effects on the hair, complexion, and teeth, are calculated to preserve a grateful recollection of the donor. See Advertisment.

West Briton Newspaper December 28, 1838

LAUNCESTON - A noble ox was slaughtered on the 29th ult. by Mr. Rundle, one of our principal butchers, for the Christmas market. It was seven years and a month old, and its weight exhibited the following remarkable results: The four[fore?] quarters 1,680 lbs; the loose fat, 227 ½ lbs; the hide 139 lbs; the head 40 lbs; total, 2,097 lbs. This fine animal was bred, reared, and fattened at Tamill and Travarten[?], in St. Clether, by Mr. James Sommers, the spirited proprietor of those estates, who, coming about nine years ago from North Devon, introduced upon his farms the splendid cattle of that district, and has since constantly selected his stock from the same quarter, with what result this specimen will shew.

West Briton Newspaper January 4, 1839

SEASONAL BENEVOLENCE - The Hon. A.M. Agar has distributed, with her wonted benevolence, her usual Christmas gifts of clothing, bedding, &c, to the poor of the neighbourhood, and has given, in addition, 28 blanketing shirts to the poor stream tinners on Redmoor.

West Briton Newspaper January 11, 1839

Christmas Spirit - SMUGGLING DETECTED - On Saturday morning, Mr. H. C. Turner, and Mr. Edmund Randall, two vigilant and active officers, the first of the Excise, and the other of the Customs, having some cause to suspect that contraband goods were brought into town by the stage vans coming from St. Austell, Tregony, and other places near the south coast, took their station about a mile out, on the eastern turnpike road, and carefully searched all the vans as they arrived. Among these was one belonging to a man called Nicholas Fugler, of Tregony, in which they found a keg of French brandy, concealed in a hamper with a little straw on top of it. Upon this they seized the van and all it contained, together with the van horse, and drove off to the Customs house, carrying Fugler with them in custody. The goods were quickly secured in the Queen's warehouse, and the horse and van properly disposed of; while Fugler was taken before the Mayor, who, on hearing the case, remanded him until Friday, agreeably to the Act of Parliament, to afford time for the receipt of orders from the Board of Customs, as to the further proceedings against him. Such of the goods found in the van as belonged to innocent persons, will, no doubt, be restored to their owners.

West Briton Newspaper December 27, 1839, Friday

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES, HELSTON. - On new-year's eve Mr. Roger FANING entertained a large party of tradesmen who have worked for him during the past year, numbering thirty-seven, to a sumptuous supper of England's good old fare, "roast beef, plum pudding, &c." Mr. Faning addressed his party in a very feeling and pleasant speech, and at the conclusion presented a handsome bible to each of the married men, and to the young persons, a testament. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED on Thursday night, the 6th of January, 1853, by Elizabeth HEARD, widow, Printer and Publisher, of No. 32 Boscawen-street, in the parish of St. Mary, in the Borough of Truro, in the County of Cornwall, and Printed and Published at her Residence and Printing Office, situated at No. 32 Boscawen-street, aforesaid.

West Briton Newspaper January 7, 1853, Friday

PENZANCE CHRISTMAS BALL. - This annual assembly took place on Monday evening last, and was attended by about eighty Ladies and gentlemen, in nearly equal numbers. The ball, which took place at the Assembly room in the Union Hotel was opened by Mrs. R.F. BOLITHO and Mr. R. PEARCE, and Mrs. Col. LEY and Mr. W. Bolitho, jun. Quadrilles, polkas, waltzes, and gallopedes were kept up with the greatest spirit, and refreshments were handsomely served by Mr. BALL, the whole terminating by about twenty couples joining the ancient dance, "Sir Roger de Coverley." Altogether it was a very delightful party.

West Briton Newspaper January 14, 1853, Friday

CHRISTMAS - WORTHY OF IMITATION. - As Christmas day falls this year on a Sunday, the shopkeepers of Hayle and its vicinity have unanimously agreed to close their shops on the Monday following, in order that their assistants and workpeople may have a holiday. At Truro, Mr. GILL, draper, has announced his intention of closing his shop on Monday the 26th instant, an example which it is hoped will be generally followed to this and other towns in the county. Mr. Gill will also close at four o'clock on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the same week. At Penzance there has also been a movement in favour of a general closing of shops on the 26th instant.

West Briton Newspaper December 16, 1853, Friday

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