Bucca
Encyclopedia
Bucca is a fairy in Cornish folklore
who, in the 19th century, was believed to be a spirit that inhabited mines and coastal communities as a hobgoblin of the storm. The Rev W. S. Lach-Szyrma
was the first to suggest that Bucca had originally been an ancient pagan
deity of the sea or fertility; in the twenty-first century it has been viewed as a deity by Neopagan
groups, principally the Witchcraft
coven of Ros An Bucca.
In the children's book Thomas and the Tinners by Jill Paton Walsh
(Macdonald Young Books, 1995), Buccas are fairies who work in Cornish tin
mines, granting wishes in exchange for food.
, Púca
, and Pwca.
In keeping with Bottrell's findings, various folkloric investigations around the same time that Bucca seems to have featured in two forms, Bucca Widn (White Bucca) and Bucca Dhu (Black Bucca). Bucca also seems to associated with the wind, in Penzance
it was customary to refer to storms that emanated from a south westerly direction, as "Bucca calling", sailors and fishermen also believe that Bucca's voice carried on the wind. Bucca was also sometimes referred to as a tin mining spirit which may indicate a wider fertility origin than that of the sea.
Also in the 19th century, there were reports of fishermen venerating Bucca with offerings. These included food offerings, particularly of fish, given to Bucca on beaches. One such beach used for this purpose was the area of Newlyn
known formerly as Park an Grouse (in Cornish
meaning 'the field of the cross') where a stone cross was allegedly once situated. Similar offerings were recorded on the beaches of Mousehole
and Newlyn "Town" (the area now known as Newlyn Cliff).
During the 18th and 19th centuries, folklorists generally interpreted the popular beliefs and practices they found as survivals from or relics of Catholicism, equating such 'survivals' with Paganism. Some also saw the continuation of practices from pre-Christian times. This idea has been discredited in recent years by academic folklorists. although this notion persists in the popular imagination. There is little surprise that the Reverend W. S. Lach-Szyrma
should have interpreted Bucca as the "storm god of the old Cornish", equating this figure with the Devil.
In the 19th century a new road was built between Penzance
and Land's End
and the Tolcarne River (main stream at the outskirts of Newlyn
) was bridged; this area was called Bucca's pass.
s and small folk like knockers (Cornish tin mining spirits).
Cornish folklore
Cornish folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in Cornwall. There is much traditional folklore in Cornwall, often tales of giants, mermaids, Bucca, piskies or the 'pobel vean' These are still surprisingly popular today, with many events hosting a 'droll teller' to tell the stories:...
who, in the 19th century, was believed to be a spirit that inhabited mines and coastal communities as a hobgoblin of the storm. The Rev W. S. Lach-Szyrma
W. S. Lach-Szyrma
Rev. Wladislaw Somerville Lach-Szyrma M.A., F.R.H.S., was born at Devonport. His father, Krystyn Lach Szyrma, a Polish Professor, moved from Warsaw c. 1830 to escape persecution , and married into the naval Somerville family in Plymouth...
was the first to suggest that Bucca had originally been an ancient pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
deity of the sea or fertility; in the twenty-first century it has been viewed as a deity by Neopagan
Neopaganism
Neopaganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe...
groups, principally the Witchcraft
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
coven of Ros An Bucca.
In the children's book Thomas and the Tinners by Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh, CBE, FRSL is an English novelist and children's writer.Born as Gillian Bliss and educated at St. Michael's Convent, North Finchley, London, she read English Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford...
(Macdonald Young Books, 1995), Buccas are fairies who work in Cornish tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mines, granting wishes in exchange for food.
Origins
Some have suggested that the origins of Bucca are shared with British folkloric beings PuckPuck (mythology)
In English folklore, Puck is a mythological fairy or mischievous nature sprite. Puck is also a generalised personification of land spirits. In more recent times, the figure of Robin Goodfellow is identified as a puck.-Etymology:...
, Púca
Púca
The Púca is a creature of Celtic folklore, notably in Ireland, the West of Scotland, and Wales. It is one of the myriad fairy folk, and, like many fairy folk, is both respected and feared by those who believe in it....
, and Pwca.
17th century
In 1611, in the Cornish language book the Creation of the World the Bucca is mentioned and some believe that the word is a borrowing into Cornish from Old English 'puca'. A cognate form in Welsh is of similar non-Brythonic Celtic origin, demonstrated in Cornish by the middle 'cc' which does not occur in Brythonic Celtic. According to the Oxford English Dictionary pwca is ultimately of Scandinavian origin.19th century
In 1890, the Cornish folklorist William Bottrell stated that:- It is uncertain whether Bucka can be regarded as one of the fairy tribe; old people, within my remembrance, spoke of a Bucka Gwidden and a Bucka Dhu - by the former they meant good spirit, and by the latter an evil one, now known as Bucka boo. I have been told, by persons of credit, that within the last forty years it was a usual practice with NewlynNewlynNewlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
and MouseholeMouseholeMousehole is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 2½ miles south of Penzance on the shore of Mount's Bay.The village is in the civil parish of Penzance...
fishermen to leave on the sand at night a portion of their catch for Bucka. Probably from this observance the common nickname of Newlyn Buckas was derived. An old rhyme says:
- 'Penzance boys up in a tree,
- Looking as wisht(i.e. haunted) as wisht can be;
- Newlyn buckas as strong as oak,
- Knocking them down at every poke.'
In keeping with Bottrell's findings, various folkloric investigations around the same time that Bucca seems to have featured in two forms, Bucca Widn (White Bucca) and Bucca Dhu (Black Bucca). Bucca also seems to associated with the wind, in Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
it was customary to refer to storms that emanated from a south westerly direction, as "Bucca calling", sailors and fishermen also believe that Bucca's voice carried on the wind. Bucca was also sometimes referred to as a tin mining spirit which may indicate a wider fertility origin than that of the sea.
Also in the 19th century, there were reports of fishermen venerating Bucca with offerings. These included food offerings, particularly of fish, given to Bucca on beaches. One such beach used for this purpose was the area of Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
known formerly as Park an Grouse (in Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
meaning 'the field of the cross') where a stone cross was allegedly once situated. Similar offerings were recorded on the beaches of Mousehole
Mousehole
Mousehole is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately 2½ miles south of Penzance on the shore of Mount's Bay.The village is in the civil parish of Penzance...
and Newlyn "Town" (the area now known as Newlyn Cliff).
During the 18th and 19th centuries, folklorists generally interpreted the popular beliefs and practices they found as survivals from or relics of Catholicism, equating such 'survivals' with Paganism. Some also saw the continuation of practices from pre-Christian times. This idea has been discredited in recent years by academic folklorists. although this notion persists in the popular imagination. There is little surprise that the Reverend W. S. Lach-Szyrma
W. S. Lach-Szyrma
Rev. Wladislaw Somerville Lach-Szyrma M.A., F.R.H.S., was born at Devonport. His father, Krystyn Lach Szyrma, a Polish Professor, moved from Warsaw c. 1830 to escape persecution , and married into the naval Somerville family in Plymouth...
should have interpreted Bucca as the "storm god of the old Cornish", equating this figure with the Devil.
In the 19th century a new road was built between Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
and Land's End
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
and the Tolcarne River (main stream at the outskirts of Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
) was bridged; this area was called Bucca's pass.
20th century
In 1913, the folklorist E.M. Wright, in her book Rustic Speech and Folk-lore listed Buccas as alternative name for spiritSpirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s and small folk like knockers (Cornish tin mining spirits).