Bolster Day
Encyclopedia
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
, UK. The festival is held on May 1 every year and reenacts the events of the Cornish legend of Bolster the giant
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
and St Agnes with use of giant imagery and local performers. During the day there are also Cornish dance
Cornish dance
Cornish dance originates from Cornwall in the British Isles. It has largely been shaped by the Cornish people and the industries they worked in. In most cases, particularly with the step dancing, the dances were still being performed across the region when they were collected...
displays and other entertainments.
The legend of Bolster
Bolster was legendary giant that was said to live near the cliffs at St Agnes. He was said to eat children and people at random. The legend continues that he fell in love with a beautiful young girl called Agnes who steals his heart.The Knight, Sir Constantine, and other local dignitaries challenge Bolster to a fight to the death. Legend says that the fight took place at Chapel Porth and that the giant overcame all who challenged him. Young Agnes was the one to finally vanquish the giant. She asks him to fill a nearby pool with his blood to prove his love for her, knowing full well that there is a hole in the pool which runs out to the sea. The giant did as he was asked and died due to blood loss. The events of Bolster day recreate this story in more detail.