Today, the 5th March is St Piran’s Day, the patron saint of tin miners.
It is said that St Piran was of Irish origin, and arrived in Cornwall in the 6th Century. Fast forward 15 Centuries and Cornwall’s favourite saint is still being celebrated by the patriotic Cornish.
The boy’s name ‘Peran’ is Cornish for Piran and many a young lad in Cornwall has to explain the origins of his name to his upcountry friends.
Here a short list of some of the events that take place around the county courtesy of Wikipedia
Bodmin – A parade through the streets with Cornish pipers and a children’s dance. Speeches by various notables, including the town mayor, Lord Lieutenant, and Grand Bard of Cornwall, followed by children’s performances of Cornish plays and songs. 400 people attended the parade in 2009.
Bude – a St Piran’s day walk led by a piper and attended by hundreds of people annually.
Camborne – singing with Cadgwith Singers at Camborne Rugby Club.
Falmouth – A parade through the town. Shop window competition.
Launceston – Piping the Flag at Launceston Castle, followed by a procession through the town ending at the West Gate.
Marazion – Procession led by mayor and mace-bearers through the streets, a short ceremony with food and entertainment afterwards.
Newquay – St Piran’s Feast.
Penzance – Annual performance of St Piran Furry dance and procession through the streets by 500 children. Annual St Piran Schools Concert.
Perranarworthal – St Pirantide celebrations at the Norway Inn. Cornish Evensong.
Perranporth – St Piran is welcomed from the sea. A processional play is enacted across the sand dunes to St Piran’s oratory and then to the ruins of his church, attended by over 1000 people annually.
Porthleven – Raising the Flag ceremony with the Old Cornwall Society. Cornish dancing by three local schools.
Redruth – First held in 2011 and billed as the biggest St Piran’s celebration in Cornwall. In 2011 it included entertainments in the town centre before a parade to the rugby club where there was a market and fairground rides, with a rugby match. During the evening there were various live music events at venues across the town. Over 2000 people attended the rugby club events while hundreds more attended events in the town. 2012 will see three separate marches from different parts of the town converge as one giant procession at the miner’s statue before heading to the rugby club.
Rock – Homecomers celebrate St Piran
Roche – St Pirantide celebrations, Victory Hall.
St Issey – Cornish music and singing.
St Ives – Procession through the streets.
Truro – Procession through the streets with speeches outside the cathedral which has a St Piran themed lunch menu in its cafe, and a Cornish folk music session afterwards. Hundreds of people attend the parade annually.
and out of the county you will find celebrations in…
London – Kernow in the City, annual live music event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Daytime activities include a showcase of Cornish film, a Cornish language workshop, and Cornish food and drink
USA – St Piran’s day is also celebrated annually in Grass Valley, California to honour the Cornish miners who participated in the area’s mining history beginning in the mid 19th century.
Oxfordshire – We have our own celebrations tonight with home-made pasties a la Becky and a couple of Tribute ales.
Diet resumes on Tuesday! If you would like to find out how to make a pasty by a seasoned pro then you must check out my mum making a pasty here
Her pasty making demonstration is up to nearly 1000 hits and she’s loving her global sucess. So please spread the word on St Pirans day and lets getting the nation making pasties tonight.
So raise that St Piran’s Flag on your flagpole today and be proud of your Cornish roots!
My Saffron Bun 