The Devils stone.
The Devils stone.
At 8 pm on 5 November each year, while the rest of the country is burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes (Bonfire Night),Shebbear has its own unique celebration. The one tonne lump of rock known as the Devil's Stone (or Devil's Boulder), which lies in the village square, is turned over by the village bellringers. The stone is a glacial erratic - not from a local rock formation. According to local tradition the stone needs to be turned over every year or a disaster will fall on the village - the last year it was not turned on 5 November was during the Second World War when such frivolity was frowned on, but after a few days of bad news someone flipped it over anyway. Supposedly the Devil dropped the stone while fighting with god, he lost the battle. Consequently the stone fell on top of him, flattening him under it. The folklore reasoning for the turning is that it takes a year for the Devil to dig down and up the other side of the rock, at which point it is flipped again, re-trapping him.
At 8 pm on 5 November each year, while the rest of the country is burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes (Bonfire Night),Shebbear has its own unique celebration. The one tonne lump of rock known as the Devil's Stone (or Devil's Boulder), which lies in the village square, is turned over by the village bellringers. The stone is a glacial erratic - not from a local rock formation. According to local tradition the stone needs to be turned over every year or a disaster will fall on the village - the last year it was not turned on 5 November was during the Second World War when such frivolity was frowned on, but after a few days of bad news someone flipped it over anyway. Supposedly the Devil dropped the stone while fighting with god, he lost the battle. Consequently the stone fell on top of him, flattening him under it. The folklore reasoning for the turning is that it takes a year for the Devil to dig down and up the other side of the rock, at which point it is flipped again, re-trapping him.
What a very unique and interesting tradition:-) I hope it works. Maybe we should all try this.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that the people in your country still do things like this.
ReplyDeleteIt is enchanting to know the folklore of these things. Keep them coming Darran Hughes as they, and you, are always welcome to share these kinds of stories.
...And as a consequence there was a rock group formed to honor it, by Mic Jaeger.
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami Good one. lol
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami that made me laugh out loud.
ReplyDelete