Beach Ices at Praa Sands
Ice meeting the sand at the base of the low cliff behind Praa Sands Beach, West Cornwall. 6th January 2009....
Icicles at Trewellard Bottoms
Water seeping through a wall is turned to icicles, ate Trewellard Bottoms, where Geevor Mine meets the sea....
Winter Sunset at Levant
A late afternoon scene, at Levant Mine, West Cornwall. 7th January 2009....
Winter at Levant
The old electricity generator building, at Levant Mine, West Cornwall, during the recent cold snap. 7th Jnauary 2009....
marhak, you being "sure" does not make it fact, and it is not fact. Do these "language bards" sit apart in the circle? Do they have different robes? Different words in the ceremony? Do they, in fact, play any different role in the Gorsedd to any other bard? No, they don't. If some of them do call themselves "language bards" in order to be divisive that is nothing to do with the Gorsedd.
On the other side of the river they have Morris Dancers and Beefeaters and the Dunmow Fitch. On this side we have the Gorsedh and Furry Dance and Obby Oss. All part of the rich tapestry that sets us apart, and every stitch in that tapestry is valuable.
And it's for demonstrating that we have something in common with Wales and Britanny, where they also 'make a spectacle' of themselves in exactly the same way.
Of course the Gorsedh is not above criticism, and I wasn't suggesting it was. But don't hold it up to public ridicule - that doesn't help the cause one bit.
I imagine in years gone by our national affliction had everyone walking round saying 'So, tell me, what IS the Cornish language for, other than for making a spectacle of the people that use it?'.
That's valid Pietercharles - good answer. But do you believe that is how most of Cornwall views it? Is there anyway of make the rest of Cornwall share your viewpoint?
I would favour a clear distinction between language bards and honourary bards (with some way of allowing those doubly qualified to be both). The reason is because their achievements are quite different (although both valuable). One is an houour awarded on rather vague critieria, and probably depends on which circles you move in, the other is open to anyone prepared to take a series of reasonably fair exams. Lumping them together is just confusing to outsiders. One is a sort of academic qualification, the other an 'houour'.
The Welsh and Bretons (and English!) also 'make a spectacle of themselves', but the Welsh at least make a fine spectacle, our gorsedh is, well, just a spectacle these days.
Seventy Percent of "competent & frequent" Cornish users prefer to write KK! (MAGA/CLP Survey)
I don't think the Gorsedd is a matter of ridicule, just of curiosity. People don't get too upset about the royal family, but you wouldn't invent it if it didn't exist. Same goes for Freemasons and the House of (hereditary) Lords.
Would we need to re-invent the Cornish Gorsedd today if it didn't exist just because Wales and Brittany have them (like we have pasties and they don't...)? Is its (sole remaining?)ceremonial function really worth all the effort? In the 20th Century, is it creating a sense of differentness or of the absurd?
I've never been to a Gorsedd gathering so don't know.
If I wanted to enthuse someone on the outside of the Cornish cultural movement about the Cornish culture, I would probably take them to an event like Lowender Peran, Aberfest, Obby Oss, the Cornish Language Weekend. I would only take someone to the Gorseth If I knew they had made it through the other events without running off.
The actual declaration and the bardic circle, the awarding of prizes is actually quite acceptable. The things which are harder to 'sell' to the greater Cornwall are things like the 'flower dance' and I have to save the singing is fairly dreary. The harp playing is nice... and it is great to hear Merv and his pipes. Pol is great at his declaration. But then again I am biased in that heart of hearts I do like alot of it.
However, I reckon I am connected to reality enough to see that few would share my view. Most look on the Gorseth as irrelevant.
The point of this here is to be helpful in trying to suggest ways of making the Gorseth more relevant.
The Gorsedh is there, it exists so we don't have to invent it. That said reinventing may be harder. Since it exists how can we best use it? Like I said earlier, and others too, it should move towards something a little more like the Welsh Eisteddfod. They hire a field for a day (why not the whole w/e?) so it ought to be filled with every sort of event and demonstration. The ceremonies should be broken up, opening, awards, closing, whatever. Having the whole of Cornish bard-dom enrobed and encircled throughout (and then spirited away to a secret location for exclusive tea and buns) means that most of the language activists are tied up the whole time. Use the cermonials to establish an atmosphere of 'differentness', but within that cultural 'bubble' there should be lots of other activities, especailly anything and everything to do with the language. I just don't believe that there's no-one in Cornwall who knows how to run an event in a field. The idea would be to make it *the* one event that *everyone* who has anything to do with Cornishness (the word 'culture' hasn't quite the right overtones) goes to. And once that idea is established everyone will go, because, well, you know everyone will be there - nothing suceeds like sucess.
You have a point here, last time they were in Truro, I remember, at least 50 people, that were just passing stoping and listening for a few minutes... Other than complete puzzlement I think some were truely interested...
It could have been well worthwile that several of the fitter, younger bards, went and spoke to the crowd, perhaps strolled around town... dare i say it hand out a few leaflets about were to learn various aspects of Cornish Culture? They could even have held a drop in street clinic for the language???
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