We're excited to share all about St Piran’s Day, a celebration that's close to our hearts here at Sennen Jewellery in Cornwall.
St Piran’s day is celebrated all over Cornwall and by communities with historical links to Cornwall all over the world. The rich Cornish history, with its strategic location, coastline, natural resources, and numerous saintly figures, plays a significant role in the celebration of St Piran's Day.
Here's everything you need to know to join in the festivities!
St Piran Day: Key Points Summary
St Piran’s Day is celebrated on March 5th in Cornwall and globally by Cornish communities.
Celebrations include singing the Cornish anthem, "Song of the Western Men," and the "Lowender Peran" festival in Perranporth.
The largest celebration involves a march to St. Piran’s Cross with the Cornish flag and daffodils.
Saint Piran, a 5th-century saint, is the patron saint of tin-miners and Cornwall.
St Piran is credited with discovering tin smelting techniques, foundational to Cornwall’s economy.
The Cornish flag symbolizes the victory of good over evil, with a white cross on a black background.
St Piran's Oratory, located near Perranporth, is an ancient Christian site associated with the saint.
Celebrations include parades, speeches, exhibits, concerts, and wearing Cornish colors and tartan.
"Happy St Piran's Day" in Cornish is "Gool Peran Lowen!"
What is St Piran's Day?
Cornwall celebrates St Piran’s Day on March 5 every year. In the Duchy as well as elsewhere where there is a sizable Cornish emigrant community, many events with a Cornish theme are held. At 9pm on March 5th, revellers in pubs across Cornwall sing the Cornish anthem, the Song of the Western Men, as part of the celebrations.
In his honour, the annual inter-Celtic celebration known as “Lowender Peran” is held in the community of Perranporth. The largest St. Piran’s Day celebration involves thousands of people marching over the sand dunes to St. Piran’s cross while carrying the Cornish flag and typically donning black, white, and gold attire. Daffodils are also brought and set at the cross, representing the Gold colour.
Who Was St Piran?
Saint Piran was a 5th-century Cornish abbot and saint, possibly of Irish origin. He is the most famous of all the saints said to have come to Cornwall from Ireland.
He is the patron saint of tin-miners, and is also generally seen as the patron saint of Cornwall.
The legend tells that Piran attained enigmatic abilities, including the ability to work miracles, while serving as an Irish saint in Ireland.
So the Irish rulers decided to fling St Piran into the sea with a millstone around his neck. St Piran survived by floating over to Perranporth beach on the north coast of Cornwall, where he built his tiny chapel and lived as a hermit.
A badger, a fox, and a bear are reported to have been his first followers! But over time, many of his Christian converts joined him in Perranzabuloe, and together they established the Abbey of Lanpiran, with Piran serving as abbot.
How is Saint Piran Associated with Cornish Tin?
Legends say that St. Piran used a black rock as a fireplace that once lit, oozed a white liquid from the This substance was Tin and it became the foundation of Cornwall’s economy for centuries to come. St Piran's Day was traditionally a holiday for Cornish miners in the 1800s.
Although tin mining was already established in Cornwall from the time of the Romans, St Piran is said to have brought new techniques in smelting tin, earning his place as the Patron Saint of tin miners.
What Does the Cornish Flag Symbolise?
The national flag of Cornwall is Saint Piran's flag, which features a white cross on a black backdrop.
The black background and the white cross stand for the white tin flowing from the black rock, signifying the victory of good over evil.
What is the Cornish Shield?
The shield bearing the phrase "One and All" and 15 golden bezants in the shape of a triangle is the Duke of Cornwall's coat of arms.
When the Duke was seized by Saracens during the Crusades, the tale of the 15 bezants took place. The ransom was 15 bezants (gold coins).
The money for the ransom was raised by the people of Cornwall. The Duke was released when it was settled. The locals had all pitched in to help raise the funds collectively. Sennen Jewellery stocks St Justin Cornish Shield Cufflinks in Cornish tin, made in Cornwall.
How is St Piran's Day Celebrated in Cornwall?
Thousands of people march to St. Piran’s cross while carrying the Cornish flag or Saint Piran's flag in the largest St. Piran’s Day celebrations, which take place near Perranporth. St Piran's Day is also celebrated in towns like St Ives.
The week leading up to the big day is known in Cornish as “Perrantide,” and it is filled with exciting events around the county.
Cornish towns frequently hold weeks of festivities building up to 5 March to mark the important day, including speeches, exhibits, concerts, and parades.
To commemorate this important day, the majority of the towns in Cornwall hold their own parades and celebrations, each with a unique local spin on the festivities.
So whatever strikes your fancy on Saint Piran’s Day, you are sure to find a great local event.
What and Where is St Piran's Oratory, and What's Its Connection to St Piran's Day?
St Piran's Oratory is a small chapel located in the dunes near Perranporth, Cornwall. It is believed to be one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain, dating back to the 6th century, and is traditionally associated with St Piran.
The oratory served as a center for early Christian worship and a place where St Piran himself is said to have preached. Over time, the chapel was buried by sand dunes and later excavated, becoming an important archaeological and cultural site.
The oratory plays a symbolic role in the St Piran's Day celebrations, with many people visiting the site to pay homage to the saint. Events on St Piran's Day often include processions, reenactments, and gatherings at the Oratory, highlighting its historical and spiritual significance to the Cornish people.
What to Wear on St Piran's Day
You will find many people at the parades dressed in Black and White, or Cornish Tartan, which is a beautiful tartan in the traditional Black, White and Gold colours.
Wearing St Piran jewellery or Cornish tin jewellery featuring the Cornish Shield is a great way of showing your love of Cornwall the whole year round!
How to Say Happy St Piran's Day in Cornish
To say "Happy St Piran's Day" in Cornish, you would say "Gool Peran Lowen!"
This phrase encapsulates the festive spirit of the day, bringing joy and well-wishes in the native Cornish language. Whether you're attending a local celebration or simply wishing friends well, "Gool Peran Lowen!" is a wonderful way to share in the tradition and pride of Cornwall.
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