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| Kernow: Land of Myths |
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Page 5 of 8 Call outs: Kernow: ‘Region of Dream and Mystery’ (Thomas Hardy) Myths are universal. From the dawn of civilization people have sought to explain the nature of their existence through stories. Stories, in short, are how we make sense of the world and of our experiences. The question then is not why mythology is present in Kernow’s culture but why it is so strong here by comparison; why there are so many stories, and why they are still told. There is no single answer, but when we look at the geography, history and culture of Kernow, there are more than a few clues. Firstly, there is that fact that Kernow has a resistant and enduring culture. There is here a people, who have been – literally- a law to themselves through the centuries, a culture not easily absorbed or influenced! Myths can survive in such a culture, where the telling and believing of such tales is democratic; a story passing from generation to generation because it continues to amuse, enthrall or has some element of ‘truth’ in it. These are stories that are owned by the people who tell them; a method of passing of lore in stark contrast to the learning by rote of doctrines dictated by alien powers. Then there are the landscape and oceans that surround Kernow. This has been - and to some degree remains - a wild, untamed land, a land rich with resource, but which can exact a terrible price from those whose lives depend on taking fish from the sea or ore from the ground. When so many lost their lives, it makes sense that the people projected their fear, anger and respect into stories, at times embodying natural forces in characters; the sea in the form of the mermaid or the spirit of the earth in the Knockers. And in spite of their grim nature, the tales actually served a practical purpose in their underlying message: do not travel or work alone; respect the sea, respect the earth, they will give you a good living, but they are dangerous too. Lastly, there is the sense of wonder at the world and the need to make sense of what people see in their daily lives. Witchcraft, piracy and smuggling feature strongly in the tales of Kernow. Through the lens of history they seem romantic to us but once they were very much part of the fabric of life. Standing stones are another example; the Kernowans of yesteryear did not possess the knowledge we take for granted today, and could not readily explain the numerous circles, quoits and menhirs that litter the landscape…other than through myth. Stories then, have been an integral part of life in Kernow. It is telling for example that even Christianity was given its particularly local flavour through a host of Saints, whose stories are themselves a potent mix of history and legend. Even today, in the modern age, we continue to need and create myths: the Beast of Bodmin, rumours of Great White Sharks... Perhaps in the future, there will be others still. |
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