23rd December 2007 - Tom Bawcock's Eve at Mousehole
Legend tells of a lengthy storm when the villagers of Mousehole could not get out of the harbour to fish. Close to starvation one of the fishermen, Tom Bawcock, went out to sea during a lull in the storm.
Braving the storm, he caught 7 types of fish and bought them back into the village. This is now celebrated each year with a lantern parade through the village and the baking of Starry Gazey pie.
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A piper and drummer leads the procession through the narrow streets.
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Tradition has that Tom Bawcock's catch of Pilchards was baken in a pie known as Starry Gazey pie. Where the heads of the Pilchards stick out from the crust.
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Starry Gazey pie is cooked at the Ship Inn and at midnight it is eaten by the locals. Look below and you can see a lantern in the shape of the pie.
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Tom Bawcock's story is told in the children's story Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber.
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The procession ends up on the beach.
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A male voice choir sings carols and some of the lanterns are floated on the water.
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Here is a close up of the Starry Gazey pie.
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9 December
River Fowey at Draynes Bridge
23 December
Mousehole Christmas Lights
23 December
Tom Bawcock's Eve at Mousehole
