The St Ives Guisers

..............FROM THE ST IVES CORRESPONDENT 1861

CHRISTMAS AT ST IVES - "THE GUISE-DANCING."

"WE doubt if there is a spot in 'merrie England' where Christmas receives so hearty a welcome, and is 'made so much of,' as in the old-fashioned 'antient borough of beloved St Ives.' It is often said that 'extremes meet;' but as well might we expect the extremities of Britain - John o'Groat's and Cape Cornwall - to meet, as that the frolic-loving descendants of Albion will ever imitate the cold, mountain-nurtured Caledonians in their observance of Christmas time. For months previous to the merry-making, preparations are made for the approaching 'carnival;' we can assure our readers that never were the real 'carnivals' ushered in with greater festivities at Rome or Venice, in the zenith of their glory, than is observed here at Christmas where it has found a last retreat in St Ives - this is the only town in the country where the old Cornish Christmas revelry is kept up with spirit. "

"The guise-dancing time is the twelve nights after Christmas, and is no more nor less than a pantomimic representation or bal masque on an extensive scale, the performers outnumbering the audience, who in this case take their stand at the corners of the streets, which are but badly lighted with gas, and rendered still more dismal of late years by the closing of the tradesmen's shops after sunset during this season, on account of the noise and uproar occasioned, the town being literally given up to a lawless mob, who go about yelling and hooting in an unearthly manner so as to render their voices as undistinguishable as their buffoon-looking dresses."

"On the whole, the character of the guise-dancing has degenerated very much this last twenty years. It was formerly the custom for parties to get up a little play, go from house to house to recite their droll oddities and levy contributions on their hearers in the form of cake or plum-pudding. Old Father Christmas and bold King George were favourite characters. Some of the dresses are, indeed, very smart, and even costly; but for the most part they consist of old clothes, arranged in the oddest manner, even frightfully ugly. As may be anticipated, these annual diversions have a very demoralising influence on the young, on account of the licentious nature of the conversation indulged in, though we really wonder that there are not many more instances of annoyance and insult than now take place, when we consider that but for such times as Christmas and St Ives Feast, the inhabitants have no place of amusement, recreation, or public instruction; there being no library, reading-room, institution, literary or scientific, or evening class; and unless there is one at the National School room, not a night school or even a working-men's institution is in the town."

In medieval Cornwall there are records of performances of 'Miracle Plays' in the Cornish language, with considerable musical involvement. Also minstrels were hired to play for saints day celebrations. The richest families retained their own minstrels, and many others employed minstrels on a casual basis. There were vigorous traditions of morris dancing, mumming, guising and social dance.

Then followed a long period of contention which included the Cornish Rebellion of 1497, the 1549 Prayer Book Rebellion and the English Civil War and Commonwealth (1642-1660). However, manuscripts of dance music from the period 1750 to 1850 have been found which tell of renewed patronage, employment of dancing masters, and a repertoire that spanned class barriers. Seasonal and community festivals, mumming and guising all flourished.


In the 19th century, the nonconformist and temperance movements were strong: they discouraged such dancing and music and fostered the choral and brass band traditions. Church Feast Days and Sunday School treats were widespread - a whole village processing behind a band of musicians leading them to a picnic site, where 'Tea Treat Buns' were distributed.

In the 20th century, guising fell out of favour, being replaced in some parts of the country with the American form of trick-or-treating. Before the 1980s, the North American phrase "trick-or-treat" was little known in the UK and when introduced was often regarded as an unusual and even unwelcome import and referred to as "the Japanese Knotweed of festivals". "Trick or treat" isn't a old tradition, unlike many of our authentic ancient festivals which are about the links between life and death, the struggle between light and dark, the forces of nature and the changing of the seasons.

Guising in St Ives has revived and waned over the years and former inhabitants of Downalong recall their excitement of Christmas Day but the inevitable feeling of boredom after (before the age of tv, computers and numerous toys). As children they would go out in the daytime around the town disguised in prized handed-down costumes and with curtain net across their faces, to call on their neighbours and friends and wait in silence for any sense of recognition from the householder who would employ all sorts of innocent trickery in the hope that the guisers would give themselves away. Saffron buns might be offered - the guisers would have to lift their face covering and risk showing their face to eat the sweet treat. Later in the evenings it would be the turn of the adults to don their disguises and go out, a custom which might result, to quote the 1861 correspondent, in "instances of annoyance and insult". Two world wars brought an eventual stop to such festivities and a further revival in the 1970's was banned by the Town Council for being too unruly.

The present day St Ives Guisers are a mix of local inhabitants and members of Bagas Porthia (St Ives Band) who adopt a more gentle, family friendly approach. In keeping with the old tradition and with the support of the Old Cornwall Society, they usually make an appearance at some time during the 12 days of Christmas although these days, not surprisingly, personal family activities often take priority. In 2008 the guisers staged a new adaptation of the Robert Morton-Nance Christmas Play based on the age-old characters of knights, dragons and damsels in distress. As Bagas Tansys (Bonfire Band) they also provided musical accompaniment for the Midsummer Bonfire festivities on Vorvas Hill, just up from the Halsetown Inn. Although guisers have no claim to Feast perhaps their slightly different approach helps to keep living traditions alive like St Ives Feast Eve and Feast Day, which falls on the first Monday after 3rd February, (the anniversary of the consecration of St Eia Church in 1434) where the Feast Day Procession, including civic dignitaries, Bagas Porthia and groups of children from local schools, walks to Venton Ia (St Eia's well) and back to the St Ives Guildhall.