The ancient streets of Penzance were once again transformed into a scene of controlled chaos and fiery revelry as the Montol Festival marked the winter solstice on 23 December 2025. This unique Cornish celebration, a revival of older midwinter traditions, embraced a spirit of 'anarchy and misrule' with its signature blend of pagan symbolism and community-led spectacle.
The Rituals of Light, Fire, and 'Warring Oaks'
At the heart of the festival lay the powerful symbolism of light conquering darkness. The event culminated in the traditional procession of the 'Guise Dancers' and the lighting of the Montol Beacon on the hill at Lescudjack Fort. However, the 2025 iteration introduced a striking new element: a pair of 'warring oak trees'.
These towering structures, one representing the 'Oak King' of the waxing year and the other the 'Holly King' of the waning year, were paraded through the town before a symbolic battle. This ritual, explained festival artist Kirsty Darlaston, drew from Celtic folklore to physically enact the turning of the year at the solstice, a moment where the old year's king is overthrown by the new.
Flaming Sprouts and a Sense of Anarchic Tradition
True to its eccentric and participatory nature, the festival featured the beloved and bizarre tradition of 'lobbing sprouts'. Participants hurled Brussels sprouts into a large bonfire, a cathartic act of discarding the old year's grievances. The event also included the haunting 'Penglaz' the Obby Oss, a skeletal hobby horse guided by a mysterious 'Keeper', weaving through the crowds.
Kirsty Darlaston, who has been involved with Montol since 2007, emphasised the festival's core ethos. It is not a commercialised or passive display but a genuine community enactment rooted in the concept of 'misrule'. This temporary suspension of normal order allows for a collective, creative expression that is both ancient and freshly reinvented each year.
A Community's Living Heritage
The Montol Festival, distinct from the summer-focused Golowan festival, is a deliberate reclaiming of Cornish midwinter traditions that were once suppressed. Darlaston notes its importance as a living, evolving practice rather than a frozen historical re-enactment. The involvement of local schools and community groups in creating costumes and lanterns ensures it remains a deeply embedded local event.
The festival's magic lies in this blend of the archaic and the spontaneous. From the solemn beacon lighting to the playful chaos of the sprout toss, Montol offers a powerful, participatory way for the people of Penzance to connect with the rhythms of the year and assert their cultural identity, all wrapped in a warm, anarchic glow against the longest night.
