Happy St Pirans Day!!
Cornish and proud!
what is St Pirans Day all about?~ well originally it was started as one of the many tinners' holidays observed by the tin miners of Cornwall.
There is little description of specific traditions associated with this
day apart from the consumption of large amounts of alcohol and food
during 'Perrantide'. The day following the St Piran's Day was known by
many as 'Mazey Day', a term which has now been adopted by the revived Golowan festival in Penzance.
The phrase 'drunk as a perraner' was used in 19th century Cornwall to
describe people who had consumed large quantities of alcohol
The modern observance of St Piran's day as a national symbol of the
people of Cornwall started in the late 19th and early 20th century when Celtic revivalists
sought to provide the people of Cornwall with a national day similar to
those observed in other nations. Since the 1950s, the celebration has
become increasingly observed and since the start of the 21st century
almost every Cornish community holds some sort of celebration to mark
the event. Saint Piran's Flag is also seen flying throughout Cornwall on this day.
Each Year, St Pirans story is retold in a drama on the dunes of Perranporths 'lost church' on the Sunday closest to March 5th.
Cornwall has a rich history steeped in mysteries and legends ~ it
attracts many artists and I believe this is because not only the
inspirational landscapes but because of the soul this country has. You
ask why I put country ... well throughout the mediaeval and early modern periods, the inhabitants of
Cornwall were generally agreed - both by themselves and by their English
neighbours - to be a distinctive people or 'race'. We had our own language,
military and ships ~ rich in tin, copper, clay and fish (of course!)
The Cornish were gradually 'absorbed into the mainstream of English life' between 1485 and 1700 ~
you can read more about it HERE
I'm celebrating with my family with a Cornish delicacy ~ Oggies !! (Pasties!!)
The photography is by one of my favourite Cornish photographers Matt Facey who captures the soul of what my Cornwall is about. Its not all about the beaches, there is something rather special, sometimes dark and mysterious about Cornwall and maybe thats why it inspires me so much.
Timeline for historical events in Cornwall
Follow Matthew FaceyPhotography on facebook
Photography of Matthew Facey Website
xxx
Beautiful country...thanks for sharing.
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