When?

January

Where?

Gulval, near Penzance

Epiphany is a special date in the Christian calendar and one of the many times when a special church service is held in the Cornish language. One of these services takes place in the Cornish village of Gulval, near Penzance. 

Image from flickr.com user Tim Green (creative commons license)

Gulval Church near Penzance
Gulval Church Image by Tim Green
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Epiphany celebrates the visit of the three wise men, or Magi, to Jesus when he was baby. This is often the last time of year that Christmas carols are sung, and in some countries marks the start of the carnival season.  

The history of the Cornish language is an interesting one. The language is, in some ways, similar to Welsh and Breton and was spoken all over Cornwall at one time. The last person who spoke only Cornish is believed to be Dolly Pentreath, who died in 1777. However, many people had knowledge of the language after her death and words and sayings were preserved, especially in west Cornwall. 

In the late 19th century, people began to be interested in the language again, and started to collect the grammar and words associated with it. This period is known as the “Cornish Revival”. In the 21st century, there are a growing number of Cornish speakers, some of whom have grown up using the language at home with their families.

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