Join us at the winter solstice
and together we’ll turn the world
upside down
The Winter Solstice in Penzance
Not so much a cultural revival as a complete re-imagining
of the old traditions of the twelve days of christmas
guize dancing and the mock (our yule log)
a living, breathing and evolving legacy
unique to us, here in Penwith.
Montol is made by us
BE A PART OF THE MONTOL MAGIC!
Every year we fill the streets of Penzance with fire, music, dancing, strange beasts and glorious mayhem.
It’s free. It’s for everyone. And it’s made by the people of this beautiful town.
Help us raise £2,500 for bonfires and torches, safety and security.
Let’s light up Penzance together!
The Montol Blog
Keep up with all the latest news
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We stand together against the Mail
I have a sordid vision seared into my brain: a slack, spindly old creep sat, straining, on the loo in the sickly light of a street lamp through coloured glass, in his ragged and stained 3 piece tweed pyjamas, pants pooled round his…
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The Gathering
Finally feels like autumn now – rising before the sun, mind and body starting to shut down half way through the afternoon as the light fades again – slow to adjust. Time to turn our minds to Montol in earnest. Sourcing, mending, fettling,…
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Equinox – Kehysnos
Not so much balance – as change – the endless circle of night and day, summer and winter. Being still enough to hear the fire and the owls in the valley, the night creatures in the undergrowth, cows coughing and farting, still enough…
Montol really is a community Festival – each component is fully autonomous – there’s nothing prescribed or proscribed … within reason.
How all the participants, planning, making and practicing in secret,
just turn up and spontaneously put on such a magnificent party …
is a mystery.
But it happens every year on the same day, rain or moon-shine.
Raffidy Dumitz Band
The glue which holds the festival together.
Their hypnotic music leading all the parades and ceremonies.
The Guilds
Groups who get together to choose a theme for their disguise and a plan to entertain and amaze throughout the revels.
Strange Beasts
Flowing through the crowds like dark fires. Freelance and feral, the Beasts are not pets. Beware!
The Ceremony of The Sun
Join us in calling back the sun, to bring dark and light into balance and keep the wheel of the year turning.
Special Guest Stars
Mummers and morris dancers, fire dancers, a constellation of starlets and Tas Nadelik – our Father Christmas.
The MOC
The Montol Organising Committee – behind the scenes, planning, juggling, wrangling and whispering – making sure it all works.
Photo Credits: 1-3 Ian Mayou, 4 Greg Martin and 5 Wikimedia Commons
What is Montol?
Hopefully we can explain a little
Not that it makes much sense
Origins
Find out a bit more about the history and origins of Montol.
Costumes
This is Penzance – there’s no dress code
civvies, full fig or sky-clad
but this is MONTOL
so it’s not FANCY DRESS either.
We have some guidelines and suggestions to help you plan your look.
Masks
Traditionally, the guise dancers chose to hide their faces
which makes sense if you’re up to mischief or breaking taboos.
We have a few ideas to get you started and inspire you.
Photo Credits: 1 Greg Martin, 2 Ian Mayou