Cornwall

The Mousehole Harbour Lights Committee will be switching on the annual display of Christmas Lights at 7.30pm on 15 December. There will be an outdoor Carolaire service with traditional music provided by the Pendeen Silver Band and the Carolaire Choir.

The lights will be switched on every evening from 5pm - 11pm until Friday 4th January, with the exception of Wenesday 19 December when the lights will be switched off for one hour between the hours of 8pm and 9pm in memory of the lives lost on the Solomon Browne and Union Star in 1981. Last year marked the 25th anniversary.

Another unique event that takes place over Christmas in Mousehole is the celebration of a dish unique to the village - Starry Gazey Pie. The lights beneath the Ship Inn pub symbolise the dish which is prepared and eaten on 23rd December- Tom Bawcock's Eve. Legend has it that residents were starved of fish because of a stormy winter.

'Starry Gazey Pie'

...Weeks had passed and no fishermen had been able to set sail. Two nights before Christmas one of these local fishermen, Tom Bawcock, braved the storm and through some miracle caught 7 types of different fish and brought them back to the village...

Tom became a local hero and every year is honoured because of his courage on the 23rd December when the Starry Gazey Pie is cooked at The Ship Inn and brought out at midnight.

Nearby, Newlyn also boasts an impressive display of festive illuminations, which you can view on your way if you are arriving from Penzance.

Newlyn lights are just as spectacular, with the illuminations distributed around the fishing harbour, along the pier and along the surrounding roads.

There is a park and ride facility from Penzance harbour carpark.

The Mousehole lights will be switched on, on the 15 December until 4 January 2008. The lights will be turned off for 1 hour on the 19 December between 8-9pm in rememberence of all those who lost their lives in the tragic Penlee disaster on the  Solomon Browne in 1981 when it was called out to assist the newly commissioned MV Union Star.

Mousehole Lights are supported by voluntary donations by the public and any additional donations come from donations and fundraising efforts of the commitee.