BUCCA

The bucca is a form of Cornish spirit or hobgoblin from the south-west of England. Buccas kept very much to themselves and need to be respected properly since they are spirits of the land and sea. Fishermen would always leave a fish for the bucca after they had a catch, and at harvest it was essential to leave a piece of bread and some beer when the harvesters had their lunch. From such respect, the bucca rapidly descended in people’s opinions to a mere bucca-boo (from which we get the term bugga-boo or bogeyman). No one now remembers him as being any different than a being with which to scare naughty children. The name bucca shares its linguistic root with creatures as diverse as Puck, Pukis, Pwca, Bwca and Buggane.