Also called Knackers, Buccas (in the mines), Tommyknockers.
The tale
Knockers are the spirits of the Cornish tin mines, heard knocking in the rock. Miners believed they led men to rich lodes, and some said they were the souls of the Jews who had worked the mines long ago. Miners left them the crust of their pasties, and it was bad luck to whistle or swear underground. Cornish miners took the belief with them overseas, where it became the Tommyknockers of America.
When they are met
- whenever working underground
- at crib time (a miner's meal break)
Staying on their good side
- leave the last crust of your pasty for them
- never whistle or swear underground
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- Visit a Cornish mine heritage site and remember the miners who worked there.
- Share a pasty with friends and leave a crust aside.
What their tales teach
- the tales teach respect for dangerous work
- remembering miners
- luck in hard labour
Symbols
- the knock in the rock
- the crust of a pasty
- the candle
The idea that they were Jewish spirits is a folk belief recorded by Hunt, not history.
Sources
- Hunt, Popular Romances of the West of England
- Bottrell, Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall
More Celtic folklore
- The Banshee The keening woman of the fairy mound
- Selkies The seal folk who come ashore
- The Púca The shape-shifter of November
- The Aos Sí The people of the fairy mounds
- The Kelpie The water horse of the lochs
- The Tylwyth Teg The Fair Family of Wales
- Leprechaun The solitary fairy shoemaker
- Clurichaun The fairy of the wine cellar