Charming seaside village named one of UK’s most festive places – with huge lights display and famous Christmas pie
A VILLAGE in Cornwall is considered one of the most magical places to visit at Christmas.
Mousehole, just less than three miles south of Penzance, is transformed into a festive spectacle come beginning of December.
Its annual Christmas lights adorn the harbour, usually from mid December.
But there’s not just a couple of lights – there’s an estimated 7,000 bulbs that light up every evening.
The lights, that illuminate the village until early January, started in 1963, and made Timeout’s list of best Christmas towns to visit this year.
They’ve now become a famous attraction., with around 30,000 people visiting them each year.
There are Christmas puddings, reindeer and even Santa’s sleigh.
The display also includes a 150-foot-long ‘Merry Christmas’ sign and a festive serpent.
People who have visited Mousehole for the lights have labelled them “iconic”.
One person took to Tripadvisor and wrote: “Lived in Cornwall for some years now, but never made it to the lights for various reasons!
“Today we did and giving braved the queues we park back on the road and walked in. Lights are very pretty and impressive with a very good duo singing next to the harbour. Very worthwhile put us in the Christmas mood for sure.”
Alongside the Christmas lights, there’s an annual festival on December 23rd called Tom Bawcock’s Eve.
It’s a yearly celebration that commemorates a local fisherman who risked his life to save his community from starvation.
According to the story, Tom Bawcock braved a Winter storm to fish and return to Mousehole with seven different types of fish.
The villagers were so grateful that they baked a large pie with the fish, eggs, and potatoes, and the fish heads and tails stuck out of the top.
The same pie, now known as ‘Stargazy Pie’, is still made today and eaten on December 23rd.
The pie is served at the only pub in Mousehole, The Ship Inn, once a year.
Other Christmas attractions near Mousehole include the Marazion to Mousehole coastal walk, a walk that offers views of some of West Cornwall’s best Christmas light displays.
The Eden Project is also not too far away and puts on a Christmas show with lights, lanterns, ice skating, and a Christmas fair.
Christmas towns to visit around the world
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany – The town has multiple Christmas markets, including the traditional Reiterlesmarkt, which dates back to the 15th century. There’s also the Christmas Museum that explains how Christmas was celebrated in Germany in the past, and how customs developed in different regions.
North Pole, USA – a Christmas-themed town that celebrates the holidays year-round. The town is decorated with candy cane-shaped street lights, and residents leave holiday decorations up all year.
Rovaniemi, Finland – located in the Arctic Circle, this family-friendly destination is home to Santa, reindeer and huskies. Visitors can meet Santa and send letters from the Santa Claus Main Post Office.
Strasbourg, France – it;s known as the ‘Capital of Christmas’ because of its annual Christmas market, which is one of the oldest in Europe.
Santa Claus, USA – Santa Claus, Indiana is a town that celebrates Christmas all year long because of its name, its holiday-themed attractions, and its post office. The town was originally named Santa Fe, but was renamed Santa Claus in 1856 when the government rejected its post office application due to a naming conflict with another Indiana town.
Mousehole, Cornwall – Christmas in Mousehole, Cornwall is marked by the village’s famous Christmas lights. A local tradition that begins with the gradual turning on of the lights from December 12–17th. The lights illuminate the harbor and village, and are a popular attraction for thousands of visitors each year.