Dark Gathering 2023 – The Dark Gathering

Ancestral Awakening – Dark Gathering 2023 – Part Three

Posted on December 1, 2023 by cassandralathamjones in Annual Event, Community Event

As the full moon shone down over the event, the energy shifted, and became liminal. This was the time for singing the Traveller’s Prayer – a lament for Summer’s End if you like. This has now become a tradition within the Gathering that was first started by Sarah Emery way back in 2015. In order to fill an unexpected lull in proceedings Sarah spontaneously started to sing the Traveller’s Prayer and it immediately captured the imagination with it’s beauty and poignancy – we have continued with it ever since. This year it was sung by Laura and Amelie (I hope I have spelled that correctly) from Beltane Border Morris.

Close your eyes and let the music take you back to that extraordinary eldritch night…

Now that we had been transported into a wonderfully expectant frame of mind, enter Peter Grey, the Conjure Man for the night.

Peter had great stage presence and there was complete silence apart from the flaming torches guttering in the breeze. He called upon the spirits of the ancestors, naming local ancient sites and barrow mounds as he did so. It was totally entrancing, slightly disturbing in parts as he held up a replica skull as a focus item, and yet it was also compelling. There was a moment which had the hair standing up on the back of my neck when Peter first called the ancestral spirits in and the flames from the torches went mad as a strong gust of wind rushed across the performance space – a sure sign that the ancestors were present. I get so inspired by these spiritual validations to the Dark Gathering – it makes all the hard work well worth it.

Following on from the Blessing we honoured the ancestors with our voices by singing the Ancestor Chant. Here you can relive this magical time with this footage:

It was now time for the finale dances from our Guest Sides, just to remind us all of their brilliance. Then Beltane prepared to dance Haccombe to Death which is always performed with flaming torches, much to the consternation of any Health & Safety conscious individuals. I have however, only witnessed one occasion over the years where the fire blanket was put to use, and that was over in seconds after a torch spilled its contents on the ground. Despite appearances Beltane Border Morris are very safety conscious.

Did you notice some odd lights dancing above the performers in the above footage? I would like to think they were spirits joining in with our revels. Ever since we had started the magical part of the evening and the full moon had risen majestically from behind the surrounding hills, we had felt the almost primeval energy pervading the area. It wasn’t until we saw the photos and footage later on that we noticed all the visual phenomena that was happening around us as well. I’m sure that there are rational explanations for the optical illusions that appeared, but it certainly went along with the eerie atmosphere of that evening. Here’s another example of this:

What is that green smoke that is hanging around Ant and my legs – also behind our MC Steve? Maybe it’s a will o’ the wisp.

Following this was the time for all the thank yous and announcements. I had a great long list of them which everyone cheered at as I named all the people who worked so hard to bring about the Dark Gathering 2023. I must have been more tired than I realised, plus somehow or other I had managed to skip lunch because I completely forgot to announce who next year’s Guest Sides were to be – unheard of omission! Maybe I just had a senior moment – well, I’m not getting any younger… anyway, although once I had realised I sent out a posting about it, I’ll mention here that we will have two fantastic sides attending – Black Powder Morris Black Powder Morris

and Cutler’s Gate. Cutler’s Gate

As next year is our 10th Anniversary, there may well be a special guest(s). This is subject to confirmation which I am awaiting. I always like to keep an element of surprise to avoid the Dark Gathering becoming too predictable. 🙂

Finally it was time for the Fire Dance. Usually Beltane arrange to have especially chosen folk at the centre of the Fire Dance and this year was no exception. I found myself, Martin our Gaffer, Peter Grey and his wife, Alkistis as my companions in the centre. Also rather wonderfully a group of Mexicans who had travelled over from their country just for the Gathering were invited to the centre – so there was a fairly large grouping. Then the wild dance began. Only someone who has experienced being at the vortex of that Wild Hunt of a dance can appreciate the potency of the energy raised – especially as I was facing the full moon with flying dancers darting across my vision. Unforgettable.

Towards the end of the dance, all 30 odd Beltane dancers joined in, swiftly followed by all the Morris sides who circled round and round. I caught sight of both wheelchair users speeding around the edge of the circle having the time of their lives. It was brilliant! Here’s some footage to give you some idea of the vibrant energy of it:

So that was it. Another action packed Dark Gathering over and done with. This time in a new venue that had proved to be a resounding success not only for us, the performers and audience, but also for the local community which benefitted from the custom and gave every appearance of thoroughly enjoying it.

Thank you so much everyone and I’ll see you all next year, gods willing. 🙂

Mari Lwyds, Mayhem and Moonshine – Dark Gathering 2023 – Part Two

Posted on November 23, 2023November 30, 2023 by cassandralathamjones in Annual Event, Community Event

This year we were determined to have a Parade since our last year in Boscastle we were unable to have one. In the past we had a parade in order to escort the Mari Lwyds to the Gathering, this year was going to be different. The Welsh requested that they arrive without escort and revert to a more traditional approach which resembled a form of gate-crashing. We still wanted a Parade for the local people of Tintagel and for any visitors who hadn’t managed to purchase a ticket. Also, as I mentioned earlier we wanted to expand the Cornish/Welsh cultural exchange, so with this idea in mind I searched for and found what I felt to be some excellent representatives of the Cornish tradition. First of all I approached the Raffidy Dumitz Band from Penzance, which incidentally myself and Laetitia had recently joined as musicians. ‘Raffidy Dumitz’ – formed in 2014 – is a group of musicians based in the Penzance area, who gather to perform predominantly Cornish music at Cornish cultural events. ‘Dumitz’ means noise and celebration other versions say it means twilight. ‘Raffidy’ refers to a 19th century story about a mediaeval statue of St Raphael, possibly part of an ancient chapel, now in St Mary’s churchyard: a workman said he had ‘wheeled away St Raffidy in a barrow’.

As we had now changed our venue, the words of our Pwnco with the Welsh needed to be changed to fit the new situation. Caroline Yeates, the author of these verses, kindly created a new set of lyrics.

However, we then had to find a Cornish speaker who could translate the words from English to Cornish. Very sadly, our dear friend Craig Weatherhill who had helped us out in the past had passed away, and so I was on the hunt for someone else. Rather delightfully we eventually discovered a Cornish Bard who not only was willing to translate the lyrics, but also to transpose them with the appropriate timing and metre. We had stumbled upon a real gem of a performer in Ken George as he agreed to sing the Pwnco for us on the day. It wasn’t until later on that I realised how highly qualified Ken is – check out this link for more details: Ken George Biography

In order to truly celebrate the cross cultural exchange, we agreed to have both Welsh and Cornish dancing displays, with a bit of audience participation to add to the fun.

Now that I have explained the thinking behind the Parade, it’s time to let you know what it was like on the day. Since the Parade required a rolling road closure, we paid for a local Tintagel resident, Roger Lyle, to attend a day course entitled the Traffic Management for an Event. Roger successfully completed this and got his accreditation which will now last for the next five years. So, as in the nature of these things, we had to be exact in our timing for the Parade start – no room for the Cornish ‘dreckly’ syndrome! (For those who are not familiar with this term, ‘dreckly’ means, at some point in the future – a bit like ‘man yana’ but not as quick.)

What was supposed to happen was, the Raffidy Dumitz Band was to leave at 6 pm on the dot from the Castle car park. At the same time Penkevyll was going to leave the venue and process down the street until they met each other outside the King Arthur’s Arms for an Oss Off. (Where two or more Osses meet is called an Oss Off). However, on the day Penkevyll got over excited and ran out into the street to meet and greet all the people waiting on the sides of the street, the tribal drummers which accompanied her were then obliged to follow in her wake. Although we emerged rather early and the 10 minutes wait seemed interminable for us drummers, Penk and her foal, Morvargh lost no time in delighting the crowd and getting up to all sorts of mischief.

A quick mention here for our new apprentice Teazer, Megan who gave a great performance in her new role.

Not forgetting our new Rider who also did splendidly. By tradition the Rider is not named in order to maintain the mystique of the Oss.

Morvargh couldn’t resist the lure of the sweet counter in the local shop. Naughty Oss!

In the meantime, various musicians were legging it down the main street to join the Parade.

Then at last the Parade was spotted coming around the corner – the excitement was palpable!

This was our signal to process down to meet them and off we set.

It was a sight to see and no mistake. Here’s some footage to give a feel of the atmosphere:

There was a glorious meet up with Penkevyll and Penhood who hadn’t seen each other since St Piran’s Day in Redruth, and they danced together to the combined music of the Raffidy Dumitz Band and the tribal drums that had accompanied Penkevyll.

The tune played when they met was ‘Horse’s Bransle’ a 16th Century French tune AKA ‘The Devil’s Fiddler’ or ‘Horse’s Brawl’.

The Band sounded great and there were smiles and excitement from the crowds including folk coming out of their homes and shops to watch the spectacle go by.

It was during this time that we had a few moments of mizzle (a cross between mist and drizzle) – it seemed that the Raffidy Dumitz Band had brought it up with them from West Cornwall! However it was short lived and certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of all the revellers. By the time the Parade had made it’s way up the main street and back to the venue it had stopped.

Looks like Penkevyll managed to corral Beltane Morris in a tent – not a sight you see very often!

Then the call went out – the Welsh had arrived. The Pwnco ceremony was about to begin.

Before I recount this custom and whilst I have your attention, there is something I want to mention in dispatches.

This man is John Isaac. He is a lovely man and a very gifted photographer. John has been the our official photographer from the very first Dark Gathering, nearly ten years ago. Sadly, he has been subjected to considerable harassment from certain quarters within the audience during his time with us. I would ask for some patience and consideration as he performs his duties. John takes a few shots at a time and then moves on – please bear with him. I know it’s annoying for someone to get in your way, but it’s not permanent. In case folk don’t realise who he is, we have decided that in future John will wear a trilby hat with a Press card stuck in the brim so that he will be instantly recognisable. John does a wonderful job and we don’t want to lose him because he’s got disheartened by all the verbal abuse aimed at him during the event. Thank you for your understanding in this.

Back to the Pwnco. In order to remind everyone what a Pwnco ceremony is, here is an extract from a Mari Lwyd Information Leaflet that was written by Caroline Yeates:

The Mari Lwyd is an old Welsh custom dating back centuries. During “ Y Gwyliau” – “ The Holidays” around Christmas and New Year, groups of men would go from house to house and pub to pub carrying a decorated horse’s skull on a pole with a sheet hanging down which covered the bearer. They would sing and make noise and on arriving at a door ask for admittance which could only be gained by winning a rhyming competition with the inhabitants “ The Pwnco” or “Canu Cwnsela”. This competition could go on for some time and include many insults. Eventually the Mari and Party would be let in for food, drink and merriment which they would enjoy until moving on to the next house or pub and starting all over again. Money also sometimes changed hands, a bit like carol singing or the Wassail tradition. Various characters were associated with the Mari – the Ostler who led the Mari, Merryman the fiddler, the Sergeant and Punch and Judy who got up to all sorts of mischief.

When the Welsh arrive at the Dark Gathering following an afternoon of genial mayhem around the village, they follow very similar lines in their approach to gain entry. We have scouts out to warn of the approach of the Welsh for its as well to be prepared for them. I’m sure folk would love to know exactly what insults were traded and exchanged between the Welsh and the Cornish so here is the translation:

Translation of Cornish & Welsh Pwnco 2023

Cornish – Kernewek
Welsh – Cymraeg

(K) Well what’s all that noise there, like choughs who are choking?
We’re locking the doors now, we’re frightened.

(C) We sing as sweetly as the birds of Rhiannon to wake the dead tonight.

(K) Well give us your names then, you don’t look too friendly.
Just bones, teeth and tatters, and eyeballs.

(C) Here are Arianrhod, Fflosi and Seren. We’re related to Llamrei, Arthur’s steed.

(K) Why have you come here so late in the evening?
The spirits will walk soon. Stay out there.

(C) We’ve come here to celebrate the spirit night of All Hallows but the M5 was terrible.

7. (K) Well come in, be quick then. It’s cold on the doorstep.
But please can you tone down, your screeching.

(C) At last! A welcome to sing and celebrate. We hope there’s cake and beer.

Now here is what it sounds like in Welsh and Cornish.

The Pwnco Ceremony

There then followed very lively and entertaining Welsh dancing from Cwmni Gwerin Pontypwl whilst the stately progression of the Mari Lwyds continued around the edge of the performance area.

Magically, just as the Welsh performers were singing their Farewell Song to us all, the full moon in all her glory slipped out from behind her veil of clouds to shine her mysterious light upon the proceedings.

Then, it was time for the Cornish to perform with music and dance.

I tried to find some photos of the Cornish dancing but everyone was dancing so quickly that the dancers came out as a blur! Nevertheless we all had a great time enjoying the Nos Lowen. (Cornish for Happy Night or social dancing to traditional Cornish tunes)

It was time for a change of pace following all this frivolity. It was time to call forth the spirits. It was time for the Ancestors.

Tarry ye awhile – I will return, dreckly…

Full Circle – Dark Gathering 2023 (Part One)

Posted on November 14, 2023February 7, 2024 by cassandralathamjones in Annual Event, Community Event

There were portents and signs to confirm that this year’s Dark Gathering was given the seal of approval by the gods, but first let me take you back nine years ago to a dark and stormy night in Tintagel 2014…

Yes, the Mari Lwyds were abroad and up to mischief in the local hostelries – and the response from the locals was mixed. We even got turfed out of one establishment! Here’s some footage to give you a taste of what that was like:

We had such a good experience with the Pwnco at the Museum the previous day that we felt that it would be a good idea to repeat it – and so we began plotting.

This is the now famous photo of our plotting headquarters for the future Dark Gathering in the Wooton Inn. In a strange quirk of fate I ended up in almost the identical place, but certainly in the same room at the Post Performance Party at this year’s event. The Dark Gathering had returned home.

This just to remind folks that the idea of the Dark Gathering was conceived in Tintagel, birthed in Boscastle, and now that the event has proved so popular and outgrew the infrastructure of Boscastle, it has returned to its roots. We hope that Tintagel will now be the Dark Gathering’s forever home.

As I alluded to earlier, Tintagel didn’t quite know what to make of us on our first visit, but as we made tentative forays into seeing whether Tintagel was a viable option for the Dark Gathering, the folk I approached were positive and did all that they could to welcome us. One person in particular was a real asset and pleasure to work with. She works unstintingly for the good of the community and her name is Chelly Sturgess.

Rather tellingly I found it difficult to find any clear photos of Chelly as she tends to hide in the background. However, in the above photo Chelly, on the right, is about to be surprised by a film crew who ambushed her on the set of The Voice (you can just make them out in the background) in order to present her with an Award for Community work. Whenever I had a question to ask about Tintagel community and who’s who within it, Chelly replied within minutes. She knew everyone and anything she didn’t know, she knew who to ask to find out. Every community needs a Chelly!

So, although in a sense we had to start from scratch again when we moved venue, the process was relatively smooth although there were a lot of emails and messages whizzing around. We found, once we had decided and successfully hired our new venue at the Mayfair car park, that we had a lot more room than we were used to. This enabled us to expand and to experiment with having a few stalls. Also this meant that we were able to explore and focus on the Welsh/Cornish cultural connection more so we invited along a few special guests. More about that later.

We also leafleted Tintagel businesses so that they were pre-warned about the influx of 500 people or more so that they could prepare themselves. This information was also disseminated into the community via social media, explaining what the Dark Gathering was about and be there to answer any queries that locals might have.

Just prior to the event there were some very real concerns about the weather which produced many asking the question, “What will happen if it rains?” to which the standard and pragmatic response from us was, “You’ll get wet!”. Weather is always in the lap of the gods, particularly in Cornwall where the weather is akin to a sulky adolescent. As it happens, we watched the storm clouds build up and then rather nattily move round the sides of Tintagel. There was only one time where we got rained upon, and that was during the Parade and that was mizzle and was fleeting. However, I’m getting ahead of myself – back to the build up storyline.

At last the weekend was upon us and our feet hardly touched the ground as everything took off with gusto! Following one last meeting with our invaluable Gaffer, Martin Davis we set off for the King Arthur’s Arms. Friday night was busy meeting up with old friends and getting to know new ones, plus dishing out umpteen wristbands to performers as they arrived.

Early the next morning we set off for the venue where a small army of volunteers and marshals were already busy setting the space up for the Dark Gathering. It looked amazing. I am full of awe regarding the sterling work that Martin our Gaffer had produced by managing and supplying the equipage for the Dark Gathering. He performed wonders with signage and we even had our very own Dark Gathering flag! Fantastic.

In the afternoon just before lift off I recall the moment when I was standing there watching the performers busying themselves with their equipment and the audience settling themselves but full of anticipation. It’s always a magical and liminal time fuelled by the expectations of so many people – I usually refer to it as a ‘pinch me moment’. It really is a bit surreal when you think that, all these folks are here and have travelled miles across the country and some from other lands, just to experience an event that happened purely by chance, because we ran with a original good idea.

Then, bang on time at 3 pm the Dark Gathering 2023 started. We began in dynamic style with Beltane Border Morris dominating the stage with a oldie but goody rendition of White Ladies Aston involving 16 dancers. Beltane attended with a huge side which added up to 40 members, so they were out in full force. This was the first time we were able to accommodate so many dancers in our extended performance space.

The next act to perform was Bakanalia, a Border Morris side from Leicester. I invited this side because they were enthusiastic, lively and inclusive. They had performers of diverse physical and mental abilities with an excellent Band of talented musicians – they looked great too. I salute their altruism.

Then it was the turn of Ragged Oak from the West Midlands. Their high quality performance was impressive and although their side was small in number they more than made up for it with such vigour and skill. They managed to cover a huge amount of the performance space even though there was only four to six dancers. They were ably supported by the tribal beat of djembes from their Band. Magnificent.

I would like at this point to put a shout out for Kim Shadowland who has been steadfastly filming the live footage of the Dark Gathering for quite a few years now. It’s a element that we wished to offer to those folk who were either housebound or unable to be present for any reason, including those overseas. This way the Dark Gathering is immediate to so many but it wouldn’t happen without Kim’s input. Thank you Kim – you do a grand job!

The rest of the afternoon was spent being wonderfully entertained by these superb Morris sides. Here’s a selection of images to portray that:

Meanwhile in the streets of Tintagel and in and out of the pubs and other interesting premises, visitations were taking place…

The Mari Lwyds had arrived in town – was Tintagel ready for this?

Well, as it happens – yes! Chris who is one of the owners of the Tintagel Curiosity Shop is a Welsh speaker having been born and raised in Wales. Not only could he converse in Welsh, but he had produced his own verses so that the traditional pwnco ceremony could be performed on the threshold of his shop. No doubt this was a welcome surprise for the Welsh performers and the Mari Lwyds duly blessed the premises as only they can.