Nickanan Night
Encyclopedia
Nickanan Night is a Cornish
feast, traditionally held on the Monday before Lent
. Sometimes called roguery night in West Cornwall
, this event was an excuse for local youths to undertake acts of minor vandalism
and play practical jokes on neighbours and family . The name Nickanan may come from the practice of knocking on doors and running away which is known as 'Nick Nack
' in some parts of English speaking world. The eating of pea soup
and salt bacon was also associated with this date.
On the day termed Hall Monday, which precedes
Shrove Tuesday
, about the dusk of the evening, it is the
custom for boys, and, in some cases, for those who are
above the age of boys, to prowl about the streets with
short clubs, and to knock loudly at every door, running
off to escape detection on the slightest sign of a motion
within. If, however, no attention be excited, and especially
if any article be discovered negligently exposed, or
carelessly guarded, then the things are carried away;
and on the following day are discovered displayed in
some conspicuous place, to expose the disgraceful want of
vigilance supposed to characterise the owner. The time
when this is practised is called 'Nicka-nan night' and
the individuals concerned are supposed to represent some
imps of darkness, that seize on and expose unguarded
moments
.
Nicka nicka nan
Give me some pancake, and then I'll be gone
But if you give me none
I'll throw a great stone
And down your door shall come.
In St Ives
this was
Give me a pancake, now--now--now,
Or I will souse in your door with a row--tow--tow.
by people living close to the Helford
River.
' a straw figure dressed not unlike a Guy Fawkes Night
guy. This Jack-o-Lent was paraded through local communities and pelted with projectiles and then burned on a Bonfire
. This practice was until the late 19th century common in Polperro
. Fire rituals such as those associated with the Jack-O-Lent may also indicate Celtic pagan origins and may be closely related to the Imbolc
festival.
during the 'Nickanan' season indicates similarity to St Ives feast and other festivities near Candlemas. The famous 'Hurling of the silver ball' at St Columb Major
still occurs during the run up to Lent.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
feast, traditionally held on the Monday before Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
. Sometimes called roguery night in West Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, this event was an excuse for local youths to undertake acts of minor vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and play practical jokes on neighbours and family . The name Nickanan may come from the practice of knocking on doors and running away which is known as 'Nick Nack
Knock down ginger
Knock, Knock, Ginger or Knocky Door Ginger were the names for the game dating back to 19th century England or possibly before to the Cornish traditional holiday of Nickanan Night. This game or prank is played by children in many cultures. It involves knocking on the front door of a victim, then...
' in some parts of English speaking world. The eating of pea soup
Pea soup
Pea soup or split pea soup is soup made, typically, from dried peas. It is, with variations, a part of the cuisine of many cultures. It is greyish-green or yellow in color depending on the regional variety of peas used; all are cultivars of Pisum sativum.Pea soup has been eaten since antiquity; it...
and salt bacon was also associated with this date.
19th century description
In the 19th century Thomas Quiller Couch described Nickanan Night.On the day termed Hall Monday, which precedes
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
, about the dusk of the evening, it is the
custom for boys, and, in some cases, for those who are
above the age of boys, to prowl about the streets with
short clubs, and to knock loudly at every door, running
off to escape detection on the slightest sign of a motion
within. If, however, no attention be excited, and especially
if any article be discovered negligently exposed, or
carelessly guarded, then the things are carried away;
and on the following day are discovered displayed in
some conspicuous place, to expose the disgraceful want of
vigilance supposed to characterise the owner. The time
when this is practised is called 'Nicka-nan night' and
the individuals concerned are supposed to represent some
imps of darkness, that seize on and expose unguarded
moments
Traditional rhymes
The following rhyme was used by the Cornish children during the evening and the following day Shrove TuesdayShrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
.
Nicka nicka nan
Give me some pancake, and then I'll be gone
But if you give me none
I'll throw a great stone
And down your door shall come.
In St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
this was
Give me a pancake, now--now--now,
Or I will souse in your door with a row--tow--tow.
Trigg meat
In coastal communities it was also traditional to gather shell fish such as limpets, mussels and winkles. This practice was known as 'going a triggin' and the produce gathered known as 'trigg meat'.. This is still practised at EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
by people living close to the Helford
Helford
Helford is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south bank of the Helford River and is approximately five miles south-southwest of Falmouth.Helford is in the civil parish of Manaccan...
River.
Jack o' Lent
During this 'Nickanan' period another custom prevailed throughout Cornwall. In some villages it was usual to make a 'Jack o' LentJack o' Lent
Jack 'o' Lent was a tradition in England in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.The effigy was a straw figure which had been dragged about the parish on Ash Wednesday and stoned and abused. Its burning on Palm Sunday was often supposed to be a kind of revenge on Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Christ...
' a straw figure dressed not unlike a Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
guy. This Jack-o-Lent was paraded through local communities and pelted with projectiles and then burned on a Bonfire
Bonfire
A bonfire is a controlled outdoor fire used for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration. Celebratory bonfires are typically designed to burn quickly and may be very large...
. This practice was until the late 19th century common in Polperro
Polperro
Polperro is a village and fishing harbour on the south-east Cornwall coast in South West England, UK, within the civil parish of Lansallos. Situated on the River Pol, 4 miles west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth, it is well-known for...
. Fire rituals such as those associated with the Jack-O-Lent may also indicate Celtic pagan origins and may be closely related to the Imbolc
Imbolc
Imbolc , or St Brigid’s Day , is an Irish festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on 1 or 2 February in the northern hemisphere and 1 August in the southern hemisphere...
festival.
Hurling
The popularity of Cornish HurlingCornish Hurling
Cornish Hurling or Hurling the Silver Ball , is an outdoor team game of Celtic origin played only in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is played with a small silver ball...
during the 'Nickanan' season indicates similarity to St Ives feast and other festivities near Candlemas. The famous 'Hurling of the silver ball' at St Columb Major
St Columb Major
St Columb Major is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as St Columb, it is situated approximately seven miles southwest of Wadebridge and six miles east of Newquay...
still occurs during the run up to Lent.
See also
- Chewidden ThursdayChewidden ThursdayChewidden Thursday was a festival celebrated by the tin miners of West Cornwall on the last clear Thursday before Christmas...
- Tom Bawcock's Eve
- Picrous DayPicrous DayPicrous Day was a festival celebrated by the tin miners of Cornwall on the 2nd Thursday before Christmas. This is believed to be the feast of the discovery of tin by a man named Picrous whom miners in the East of Cornwall celebrated as the founder of their industry instead of St Piran.Robert Hunt...
- Golowan