Why a Severed Head Was Paraded Through Penzance on Sunday

A severed head was carried on a plate through the centre of Penzance on Sunday morning. A brass band led the way and around 60 dignitaries walked behind it.

The head belonged to St John the Baptist, the town’s patron saint, and the procession marked the official opening of the 2026 Golowan Festival, Penzance’s week-long celebration of art, music, heritage and culture. It happens every year, and the reason for it goes back more than 400 years.

A clever pun on the town’s name

The name Penzance comes from the Cornish, or Kernewek, name Pennsans, which translates as ‘Holy Head’. It refers to the headland of granite that runs from the hills down into Mounts Bay, the stretch from St Mary’s Church down to St Anthony Gardens and Jubilee Pool.

In 1614 the town created and adopted the Penzance Borough Seal. Using the story of John the Baptist as its basis, the seal was literally a holy head, St John’s head, a play on the town’s place name that tied the saint to Penzance. Now known as the Old Borough Seal, it appeared on all official documents until 1934, when the current Penzance Coat of Arms was granted by the Kings Arms in London.

Sunday’s Civic Parade

Carrying the ceremonial severed head of St John on a plate, the Feast of St John Civic Parade set off from St John’s Hall at 10.40am and made its way through the centre of Penzance to St John the Baptist Church for the annual Feast of St John Service.

Penzance Silver Band led the procession, with around 60 dignitaries joining the Mayor of Penzance, Cllr Andy Law.

“I look forward to Golowan like a cuckoo looks forward to Spring,” Andy Law said. “The colour, variety and sheer joy that this festival brings to the streets of the Parish, with its parades, music, art and culture, along with the vibrancy of the crowds is a total pleasure to behold and be a part of. As the new Town Mayor, I am so proud of Penzance Council’s support for this most important of events and would like to extend our grateful thanks to the whole team at Golowan CIC and all the hard-working individuals who make Golowan possible. Penzance and the surrounding areas are indeed flying high!”

This year’s theme

2026 marks the 36th year of the festival’s revival, and this year’s theme is “Forever Flying High”. It celebrates everything that soars above Penzance, from seabirds over Mounts Bay to the Scilly helicopter, from Cornish sky spirits to bold visions of future flight.

Building up to Mazey Day

The Feast of St John midsummer celebrations died out in Penzance at the end of the 19th century. The tradition was revived in 1991 as a single day, Mazey Day, and with the continuing support of Penzance Council it has grown into the week-long Golowan Festival. Mazey Day remains at its heart and now draws tens of thousands of people to the town.

This year’s Mazey Day falls on Saturday 27 June. The Mayor and Mock Mayor will address the crowds from the Mayors’ Platform at around 10.30am, followed by parades at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Hundreds of participants from schools and community groups will show off their giant wicker models to the sound of marching bands.

Alongside the parades, street entertainment and stalls, this year sees the return of the pilot event area in Penlee Park that was first run last year. It will have entertainment and activities for all ages, food stalls, a bar, craft stalls and the Tree Lounge, a hang out space for young people organised by PZN Youth.

Penzance Council supports Golowan through partnership and funding of Golowan Festival CIC, which won the tender to run the festival and is contracted to deliver it until 2027.