Cornwall

Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow or occasionally Curnow) is a county of England's south-west peninsula, lying west of the River Tamar.

Culture

Language

The Cornish language is closely related to Welsh and Breton, and less so to Irish, Scots Gaelic and Manx. It continued as a living Celtic language until 1777 and the death of Dolly Pentreath, the last person thought to have used only the Cornish language (although this is disputed on a number of counts). The publication of Henry Jenner's "Handbook of the Cornish Language" in 1904 caused a resurgence of interest in the Cornish language and efforts are being made to revive it. Although there has never been a census, there are some 2,000 Cornish speakers, 100–150 of whom are fluent. It has recently been officially recognised by the UK government as a minority language.

Related Topics:
Cornish language - Welsh - Breton - Irish - Scots Gaelic - Manx - Celtic language - 1777 - Dolly Pentreath - Henry Jenner - 1904

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Some Cornish surnames are prefixed by Tre, Pol, or Pen, as indicated in the rhyme "by Tre, Pol and Pen ye shall know Cornishmen." These come from Cornish language words meaning, respectively, town (or farm), pool, and head.

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Cornish studies and literary references

The Institute of Cornish Studies, established in 1970, is a branch of the University of Exeter, and now part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall Campus at Tremough, Penryn. Philip Payton, professor Cornish studies, has written a history of Cornwall as well as editing the Cornish studies series, and other academics, including Mark Stoyle of the University of Southampton and John Angarrack of the human rights organisation Cornwall 2000, have also produced work on Cornish culture.

Related Topics:
1970 - University of Exeter - Combined Universities in Cornwall - Philip Payton - Mark Stoyle - University of Southampton - John Angarrack - Cornwall 2000

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A detailed overview of literature is provided by A. M. Kent's 'The Literature of Cornwall'. It covers everything from Medieval mystery plays to more recent literary works that draw on the Cornish landscape. Notable Cornish writers include Arthur Quiller-Couch alias "Q", the deaf short story writer, Jack Clemo and D M Thomas acclaimed author and poet.

Related Topics:
Arthur Quiller-Couch - Jack Clemo - D M Thomas

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Cornwall also produced a substantial amount of passion plays during the Middle Ages. Many are still extant, and provide valuable information about the Cornish language.

Related Topics:
Passion plays - Cornish language

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Daphne du Maurier lived in Cornwall and set many of her novels there, including Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and The House on the Strand. She is also noted for writing Vanishing Cornwall. Charles de Lint's novel The Little Country, Winston Graham's series Poldark, Kate Tremayne's Adam Loveday series, Susan Cooper's novels Over Sea, Under Stone and Greenwitch, Mary Wesley's The Camomile Lawn and Gilbert and Sullivan's musical The Pirates of Penzance are all set in Cornwall.

Related Topics:
Daphne du Maurier - Rebecca - Jamaica Inn - Frenchman's Creek - My Cousin Rachel - The House on the Strand - Vanishing Cornwall - Charles de Lint - The Little Country - Winston Graham - Poldark - Kate Tremayne - Adam Loveday - Susan Cooper - Over Sea, Under Stone - Greenwitch - Mary Wesley - The Camomile Lawn - Gilbert and Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance

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Religion

Traditionally, the Cornish have been nonconformists, in religion. Celtic Christianity was a feature of Cornwall and many Cornish saints are commemorated in legends, churches and place names.

Related Topics:
Celtic Christianity - Cornish saints

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The Methodism of John Wesley also proved to be very popular with the working classes in Cornwall in the 18th century. Cornwall has shared in the post-World War II decline in British religious feeling.

Related Topics:
Methodism - John Wesley - 18th century - World War II

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In 2003, a campaign group was formed called Fry an Spyrys (free the spirit in Cornish) http://www.freethespirit.org.uk/. It is dedicated to disestablishing the Church of England in Cornwall.

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Music and festivals

Cornwall has a rich and vibrant folk music tradition which has survived into the present. Cornwall is well known for its unusual folk survivals such as Mummers Plays, the Furry Dance in Helston, and Obby Oss in Padstow.

Related Topics:
Folk music - Mummers Play - Furry Dance - Helston - Obby Oss - Padstow

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Cornish players are regular participants in inter-Celtic festivals, and Cornwall itself has several lively inter-Celtic festivals such as Perranporth's folk festival.

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Sports and games

Cornwall has its own unique form of wrestling related to Breton wrestling.

Related Topics:
Own unique form of wrestling - Breton

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Cornwall's other national sport is hurling, a kind of medieval football played with a silver ball. Hurling is distinct from Irish Hurling. The sport now takes place in St Columb and St Ives only.

Related Topics:
Hurling - Irish Hurling - St Ives

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Rugby has a larger following in Cornwall than football, with the Cornish Pirates RFC, Launceston RFC and Redruth RFC in the national leagues. The county team often drawing very large crowds of supporters, dubbed Trelawny's Army.

Related Topics:
Rugby - Football - Trelawny

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Due to its large coastline, various maritime sports are popular in Cornwall, notably sailing and surfing. International events in both are held in Cornwall. Cornwall will host the Inter-Celtic Watersports Festival in 2006.

Related Topics:
Sailing - Surfing - Watersports

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Euchre is a popular card game in Cornwall, it is normally a game for four players consisting of two teams. Its origins are unclear but some claim it is a Cornish game. There are several leagues in Cornwall at present.

Related Topics:
Euchre - Card game

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Food

Cornwall is famous for its pasties (a pastry dish- traditionally a Cornish Past contains meat and vegetables, often peppered), but saffron buns, Cornish Heavy (Hevva) Cake, Cornish fairings (biscuit), Cornish fudge and Cornish ice cream are also quite common.

Related Topics:
Pasties - Saffron - Fudge - Ice cream

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Cornwall with the South West shares clotted cream and many types of cider. There are also many types of beers brewed in Cornwall - the St Austell brewery is the best-known - including a stout and there is some small scale production of wine.

Related Topics:
Clotted cream - Cider - Beers - St Austell - Stout - Wine

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Rodda's cream (a creamery based in Cornwall) is eaten by the queen at Christmas.

Related Topics:
The queen - Christmas

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