Tow Bawcocks eve is a festival held on the 23rd of December in Mousehole, Cornwall, UK. The festival is held in celebration and memorial of the efforts of Mousehole resident Tom Bawcock to lift a famine from the village. During this festival Star Gazy pie (a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with pertruding fish heads) is eaten and depending on the year of celebration a lantern procession takes place.
The childrend book the Mousehole cat by Antonia Barber, was inspired by the traditions and practice of Tom Bawcocks Eve and resulted in a televison production.
There is an ongoing folk music tradition associated with Tom Bawcocks Eve. Below is one version of 'Tom Bawcocks Song' sung traditionally at this event.
"merry place you may believe, Tiz Mouzel 'pon Tom Bawcock's eve
To be there then who wouldn't wesh, to sup o' sibm soorts o' fish
When morgy brath had cleared the path, Comed lances for a fry
And then us had a bit o' scad an' Starry-gazie pie
As aich we'd clunk, E's health we drunk, in bumpers bremmen high,
And when up caame Tom Bawcocks name, We'd prais'd 'un to the sky"
