Ever since the Middle Ages, during the Twelve Days of Christmas, groups of guise dancers have been found entertaining each other and their communities all across West Penwith.Guise Dancing was always a sort of mumming, involving complete disguise in ragged and grotesque or elaborate and grand costumes, cross dressing and animal masks – though there was very little actual dancing there was usually a lot of bad music and worse jokes – going from house to house in the dark. Since 2013 we’ve generally got together in more formal Guilds.Because Montol isn’t a fancy-dress party — No Batman but plenty…

For every cultural event or organisation, outside of the Royal Opera House or Old Trafford, money is the big neon elephant tooting and stamping in the middle of the room.Some of our neighbours have had to pause their events, some have simply died. But we will survive! We’re exploring everything. Tickets are a big no for us, though I totally understand why some friends have chosen that route.The whole point of Montol is to revive and honour what were originally spontaneous, boisterous and unruly expressions of our culture – our job is to enable and facilitate that in a much…

So we’re exactly a month out from Montol and things are starting to fall into place. Woah! Fall‽ Carefully, precisely placed and arranged would be a better way to put it. How are your projects progressing? I had grand plans for a new mask this year – but like so many it’s been put off till next. Time for an update: There’s so much going on behind the scenes – as always.Montol is an ungainly lumbering beast and, like a dinosaur, it needs all the little brains in its shoulders and hips just to keep walking.And it belongs to all…

A guest post from the Raffidy Dumitz Band You remember us. You’ve seen us at Montol since 2015 and at Golowan, Redruth Wassail, Penryn Mock Mayor and other Cornish events. Like Montol, we’re fully inclusive and all about participation – if you are able to get to Penzance on a Saturday, find us in the Star at 5 pm join in a couple of practices and if you like the feeling, come along as often as you like. But at this time of year we have a request. Montol is all about participation and we love that so many of…

OK, so why DO we burn the sun? Time to ruffle the feathers we wear in our hair and in our hats. Good time to ask.Life full, as it is for 10 days now, of bending and sticking, thinking and planning, papering and painting, arty farty and engineering and making do – making the Sun.I made one for the first time last year – in a long line of crafty improvisors. And had to face the weird, cathartic, ambivalent moment we makers have all faced when it goes up in flames … but … it “completed” … it was made…