Ah, Cornwall! Known for its scenic coasts, charming villages, and… pie with fish heads poking out? Welcome to the tale of Stargazy Pie, the most daring and questionable dish to ever swim out of Cornwall.
Let’s set the scene. It’s the 16th century in Mousehole, a tiny Cornish fishing village. Imagine yourself bundled up in a wool cloak, shivering against a relentless winter storm. The waves are crashing, the winds are howling, and your stomach? It’s growling. This particular winter has been so stormy that the fishermen can’t leave the harbor, and the villagers are facing the terrifying prospect of a fish-free Christmas. Tragedy!
Enter our hero, Tom Bawcock, a fisherman whose bravery was matched only by his love of seafood and, apparently, his aversion to starving. On December 23rd, with the village in a near state of panic and no fish in sight, Tom decided he’d had enough. Legend has it, he squinted into the stormy horizon, flexed his sea-worn muscles, and muttered something brave, like, “Right, lads, I’m going fishin’!” And off he went into the tempest.
Against all odds, Tom returned, boat groaning under the weight of his catch – seven types of fish, to be exact. The villagers, thrilled at the sight, didn’t waste a second. They tossed every fish they could find into a pie, heads and all, so everyone could see that yes, there was actually fish in there. The pièce de résistance? They left the fish heads sticking out as proof of the bounty Tom had hauled in.
Thus, Stargazy Pie was born! Ever since, Mousehole has celebrated “Tom Bawcock’s Eve” every December 23rd, parading lanterns through the village and feasting on this fishy pie masterpiece. And for anyone doubting Tom’s achievement, there’s always a fish head or two popping out of the pie to remind them.
But wait, the tale doesn’t end there. Stargazy Pie holds a darker, more sinister claim to fame: it allegedly scared the Devil himself out of Cornwall. Legend says the Devil once crossed the River Tamar, intending to wreak havoc in Cornwall, only to discover the locals’ shocking habit of throwing anything and everything into a pie. Horrified by the possibility of a “devilly” pie, he bolted back to Devon, probably cursing the fish heads along the way.
Now, there’s a bit of debate over the origins of this festival. Was Tom Bawcock a real hero, or a fishy figment of imagination? Author Morton Nance, who was passionate about all things Cornish, documented the festival in 1927 and suggested that the name might even be “Beau Coc.” But regardless of its origins, Stargazy Pie has become a quirky Cornish tradition, and the Mousehole harbor lights up with festive displays every year, including one of the infamous pie, fish heads, tails, and all.
So, whether you’re in it for the fish, the folklore, or just the chance to see something that genuinely terrified the Devil, Stargazy Pie is a must-try. Just don’t be surprised if the fish heads seem to be staring at you.
