Montol 2022 The Cornish Midwinter Solstice Festival | Evening Revelry

Montol, the Cornish Midwinter Solstice Festival, starts with a procession around sundown, which is easier for kids to participate in. There is also Carol singing and the various Beasts, known as Osses begin to appear. Tall and surmounted by a horses head with bright jewels for the eyes, they can seem frightening or funny depending on the context. Participants are either dressed in 'Tatters' or their best finery and almost always wear masks or other disguises. Some of the costumes are very imaginative, unique even, but many are borrowed from myth and local legends. Music is provided by the Raffidy Dumitz band and is often very loud with drums and horns. Everyone enjoys this, but it is only a prelude to later celebrations.
At 6pm, the group re-assemble. Led by standard bearers with the Montol Banner and followed by 'Osses with their Teasers, Firedancers, dignitaries and other folk. The band are close behind, playing traditional Cornish tunes, then there are many folk in costume behind. This years the route was altered due to no bonfire being allowed, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves nonetheless.
Once the evening procession concludes, then the guilds come out to play. with guilds come out depends on who has managed to organised themselves sufficiently, but there are always the Cornmarket Revellers and Egyptians.
This year the dancing in the street was for me the highlight of the event, as the dancers and musicians were very up for it as were other guild members and the general public. It ended with hugs all round, new friendships and old ones renewed. The final part of the evening this year consisted of all the people left getting together in the street and having a jolly good time with music, dancing and singing until late. Everyone was in a good mood. Later as things began to quieten down , I had a chance to catch up with some friends. Some had had a difficult year a bit like myself, others had grown and were satisfied with life.

Still images made with my film camera are in production and there will be separate video made summarising the day and including images worthy of viewing. Thanks for watching this series. Please do come back for more. There will also be Vlogs made on the nearby Heamoor and Madron Moorlands taking in Neolithic sites and ancient Woodlands.

Vlogging Kit
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Stills:
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Nikon FE & 50 f1.8 lens

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