Sacred Britain, Cornish Culture and Celebrate Kernow

The recent relaunch of the Cornish Culture website has prompted me to think about the folklore, cultural events and folk-celebrations in Cornwall and across Britain.

Chalking the Mock at Midwinter ceremony in Penzance

I have long been involved in the folkish mystical celebrations of Britain. From England's fantastic Morris Dance traditions, the spiritual practices of Druidry, a deep sense of the sacredness of the diverse and beautiful landscape, the Cornish midwinter Montol celebration and the midsummer hilltop fires that burn from western Cornwall to northern Scotland. Britain has a rich, interesting and often magical folk culture, and I for one want this culture to be welcoming and open to all who are interested.

Border Morris at the 2010 Royal Cornwall Show

A great new website and community group has recently been launched in Cornwall. Celebrate Kernow is a grass roots celebratory society with an emphasis on participation and enjoyment of all things culturally Cornish. The official website Cornish Culture is a fantastic portal of information relating to the myriad of traditional culture and folkways of Cornwall.

As an Englishman living in his adopted home of Kernow, I have always been slightly wary of Cornish Culture organisations. Often it appears that lurking within these organisations is a dark and unpleasant brand of Cornish Nationalism, where there is no room for diversity. Well be rest assured that Celebrate Kernow, with its roots in such festivals as Golowan and Montol, expounds its philosophy of inclusiveness for all the people of Cornwall.

It is not just Cornwall where this dark and unpleasant shadow may sometimes lurk. As the far right of British politics continues to try to infiltrate our folklore, customs and festivals we should all try to be more aware whilst enjoying our rich, diverse and often eccentric traditions. Each of us should take responsibility to be tolerant and open to all who are interested. As the group Folk Against Fascism state: "we do not wish to see folk music and culture used as part of a cynical political agenda."

I believe that organisations such as Celebrate Kernow and websites like Cornish Culture have an important part to play in reviving the regional folk culture and living mysteries right across the wonderfully diverse British Isles. There is no room for bigotry but there is room for the sharing of ideas and the revival of interesting and often very sacred and unique festivals. It is a great way to rein vigour ourselves with our rich and historic past and a fantastic way for us all to look forward to a peaceful and tolerant future.

Let us celebrate the many interesting and sometimes very strange folk customs of ancient Albion, and let's encourage the revival of, and even the creation of new events in the hope that a much needed community spirit will emerge. A spirit of respect and understanding, where we can work, live and play together on our small green North Atlantic island.

Let us celebrate Kernow, and let us celebrate Britain's diversity!

http://www.cornishculture.co.uk/

The Old Oss of May Day in Padstow