Padstow (Cornish: Lannwedhenek) is a small town, civil parish and cargo port on the north coast of Cornwall, England. It lies within the administrative district of North Cornwall.
History
Padstow was originally named Petroc-stow, after the Welsh missionary St. Petroc, who landed at nearby Trebetherick around AD 500.
Padstow isn't usually thought of as a "Viking town", but it was near Padstow that in 722 AD the Britons of Cornwall united with the Vikings of Denmark to destroy an invading Anglo-Saxon army led by Ine of Wessex at "Hehil". The Saxons army was slaughtered, and this decisive battle gave Cornwall 100 years of freedom from attacks by Wessex.
Obby Oss Festival
Padstow is best known for its "Obby Oss" festival. Although its origins are unclear, it most likely stems from an ancient fertility rite, perhaps the Celtic festival of Beltane. The festival starts at midnight on May Eve when townspeople sing the "Morning Song". In the morning, the town is dressed with greenery and flowers are placed around a maypole. The climax arrives when male dancers cavort through the town dressed as one of two 'Obby 'Osses, the "Old" and the "Blue Ribbon" 'Obby 'Osses; as the name suggests, they are stylised kinds of horses. Prodded on by acolytes known as "Teasers", each wears a gruesome mask and black frame-hung cape under which they try to catch young maidens as they pass through the town. Finally, at midnight on May Day, the crowd sings of the 'Obby 'Oss death, until its resurrection the following May Eve.
Mummers or Darky Day
On Boxing Day and New Year's Day, it was a tradition for some residents to don blackface and parade through the town singing 'minstrel' songs. The origin of this custom, once called "Darky Day" is unknown, although it has been speculated that it is associated with freedoms given to the occupants of passing slave ships on those days. Folklorists associate the practice with the widespread British custom of blacking up for mumming and morris dancing, and suggest there is no record of slave ships coming to Padstow. Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently become controversial, perhaps since a description was published. Also some now suggest it is racist for white people to "black up" for any reason. Although "outsiders" have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and are incredulous at both description and allegations. Long before the controversy Charlie Bate, noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence. The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed mummer's day in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established British tradition. The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny.
