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Helston
Cornwall
Helston Flora Day
Flora Day is held every year on May 8th except when this date falls on a Sunday or Monday, then it is held on the preceding Saturday. This celebration is believed to be pre-Christian. The whole town is decorated with local greenery and bluebells which grow in millions in the surrounding countryside.
To the beat of the big base drum, elegant gentlemen and their ladies dance in and out of Churches, shops and houses. The day starts with the 7.00 am dance with the Gentlemen wearing shirt and tie and the ladies wearing light summer dresses. This is followed by a boisterous dance cum play called the Hal-an-Tow. Verses of this have reference to Robin Hood, the Spanish Armada and St George and the dragon. Next to follow about 10.30am is the Children's Dance. The boys and girls are all dressed smartly and are decorated with flowers and lily of the valley. At noon the main dance of the day is started. This is the formal dance with the men wearing morning dress and the ladies magnificent ball gowns and hats that could be the envy of "Ascot." This dance is always led by a couple born in Helston.
At the bottom of Coinagehall street are many stalls selling souvenirs, crafts and food, running all the way down to Coronation Park where a large fairground is set up. The celebrations last well into the evening with Helston's many public houses doing a roaring trade.
08 May 2008
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