Celebrating Cornwall on š“āā ļø 'Saint Piran's Day' 5th March
- Simon O'Donovan

- Mar 4, 2024
- 4 min read

Here are a few ideas for a Cornwall themed CST session to celebrate 'St Piran's Day' on 5th March.
Start by asking members if they have enjoyed any holidays in Cornwall and what their favourite places there are?
What do they remember about Cornwall - the food, the tourist attractions, the beaches and the people?
Then there is a short 'Music and Picture Quiz' below.
You might like to print off lyrics of the songs for the group to singalong with?
Hint. You can either screenshot the 'rounds' and print them off as a handout or if you are broadcasting to a TV or projector if you click on the first photo a slide how will open.

FACTOID. The Cornish flag is dedicated to St Pirran. The Cornish word for Cornwall is 'Kernow'.
CORNISH IDIOMS & SAYINGS
"Were you born in a BARN?" ("Close the door.")
A few sandwiches short of a PICNIC
The bee's KNEES
Play a BLINDER
Bob's your UNCLE
Bog STANDARD
A botched JOB
What a load of cods WOLLOP
It cost a BOMB
A dog's DINNER
He's off GALLIVANTING
Gob SMACKED
Absolutely GUTTED
The dreaded LURGY
Don't over-egg the PUDDING
Spanner in the WORKS
Sod's LAW
Wind up MERCHANT
The coast is CLEAR
The world is your OYSTER
Like a fish out of WATER
Plenty more fish in the SEA
"That's cowing lush." ("It's lovely.")
"I'll do it dreckly." ("In a minute, maybe?")
"Alright me ansom?" ("Hello!")
"Geddon me bewty!" ("Good show!")
"T'int right, t'int fair, t'int proper." ("That's not right.")
"Landlubber." (Someone who dislikes being at sea.)
"Proper job." ("Well done!")
"Yer tis." ("Yes it is.")
"I'llItellywot" ("You're not going to believe this.")
"Wasson me cock?" (What's going on?")
"Zackly" ("Agreed.")
"Pizendawn" ("I wouldn't venture outside, it's rather wet.")
"Giss on!" ("Are you pulling my leg?")
"Wozelike?!" ("Always up to something that little scamp.")
"Grockles." ("Tourists.")
"I'm cream crackered." ("Knackered.")
'Curtain twitcher." ("Nosy person.")
"It's a doddle." ("Easy.")
"Give me a tinkle on the blower." ("Call me.")
"Right on!" ("Goodbye!")
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
ROUND 1. About Cornwall

Which two industries & which Cornish bird appear on the Cornish coat of arms?
FACTOID. Dorothy Pentreath (16 May 1692 [baptised] ā 26 December 1777) was a fishwife from Mousehole, Cornwall, England. She is the best-known of the last fluent speakers of the Cornish language.

SONG BREAK. 'The Floral Dance', Terry Wogan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlH1af4siKQ
Which Cornish town is this song associated with?
ROUND 2. People

SONG. 'Men Of The Sea', TV Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m9hxIC7N_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BS8QeWPzi0 (Short TV intro)
Remember Chalky biting the microphone? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJX9V9M6xE4
FACTOID. This is why he named his lager 'Chalky's Bite'!
ROUND 3. Food & Drink

SONG BREAK. 'I Am A Cider Drinker', The Wurzels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72U3UbfJG40
What was their other hit song about farming?
ROUND 4. Art & Literature

SONG BREAK. 'What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor', 'Fisherman's Friends' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52g7ak47IZo
What type of songs are sung by this group?
ROUND 5. My Tp 10 Tourist Attractions
FACTOID. There is a popular children's book about Mousehole, based on the legend of Cornish fisherman Tom Bawcock and the stargazy pie, it tells the tale of a cat who goes with its owner on a fishing expedition in rough and stormy seas.
Can you answer the 'St. Ives' riddle? "On my way to St. Ives I saw a man with 7 wives. Each wife had 7 sacks. Each sack had 7 cats. Each cat had 7 kittens. Kittens, cats, sacks, wives. How many were going to St. Ives?"

SONG. 'Padstow May Day Song' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yol4Y7rdew
FACTOID. The saying 'Pride Of Place' comes from the Manor House 'Prideaux Place' in Padstow?
FACTOID. There are two 'Obby Osses' that 'fight' before dancing around the maypole together.
FINAL SINGALONGS


And here is a surfing song to finish ...

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

Right, weather allowing, we're going to the beach for the afternoon (in our imaginations). Have members choose which items they will take with them and pack an imaginary bag. What beach shall we go to?
Or you could ask the group to list as many fish as they can and get drawing or painting.

REFRESHMENTS

It has to be fish and chips right? Get a takeaway in, if you can.
Who wants mushy peas, tartare sauce or tomato sauce?
Wash it down with a St Austell's brewery ale.


ANSWERS
Fisherman, Miner & Chough (pronounced 'Chuff')
Truro / 1.5 million
Penzance / Enid Blyton
500,000 gallons ("Brandy makes you randy!")
Overfishing
1998
Totality was 11 mins past 11 on August 11th 1999
'Brown Willy' (1,378 feet above sea level)
Lands End / 603 miles as the crow flies
The Scilly Isles / St Mary's. St Agnes, Tresco, St Martin's & Bryher (Locals call the 'Scillonian' ship the 'Chuck Bucket', as waters are often choppy.)
Tamar / Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Helston - 'Floral Day' (annual festival)
Padstow / Rick Stein
Dawn French / Jennifer Saunders
Fern Britton / Author
Judy Finnigan & Richard Madeley / 'Good Morning Britain'
Jamie Oliver / 'Fifteen'
Will Young / 'Evergreen' ('Pop Idol' winner)
Prince Harry / Rock (opposite Padstow)
King Charles 111 & Camilla Parker-Bowles (nee)
Harry Enfield
Prince William & Kate Middleton (nee) / £24 million
Cornish Pasty / Tin Miners (apparently the crust was thrown away for the rats in the mines because of toxic chemicals on miners hands)
Stargazey Pie / Pilchards (Sardines)
Cornish King Crab
Ā£10.95 (standard size)
Yarg / Nettles
Saffron bun (Saffron is the dried stamen of a crocus)
Hevva (Heavy) Cake / Flour, Butter, Dried Fruit, Sugar & Milk
A 99 Flake
True / Strawberry
Fermented honey
30-40 apples
"I've got a brand new 'Combine Harvester'"
Daphne Du Maurier / Bodmin Moor
'Rebecca' / The second Mrs De Winter (she was never given a name in the book) & Mrs Danvers
'Poldark' / Ross & Desmelda
'Pirates Of Penzance'
'Treasure Island' / Long John Silver
'Minnack Theatre' / Rowena Cade
Barbara Hepworth
'Tate Modern' / St Ives
'Ladies In Lavender' / Dames Maggie Smith & Judi Dench
'Doc Martin' / Martin Clunes / Port Wenn (which is actually Port Isaac)
'Fishermans Friends' / Menthol & Eucalyptus
Sea Shanties
Padstow / Camel
'Eden' / The biomes contain tropical and mediterranean forest gardens
St Ives / Because of the light. The sun reflects brightly off the golden sands.
Tintagel
King Arthur & The Knights Of The Round Table
1990
Fistral Bay / 'Hen' and 'Stag Dos'
St Michael's Mount / Mont Saint Michel
Boscastle / Witchcraft
149 steps are cut into the cliff
Muzzle
One (he met all the others on his way)


































































Comments