Also known as cornish floral dance, the cornish floral dance, flora dance, the flora dance, floral dance, the floral dance, furry dance, the furry dance. The most famous furry dance takes place in helston, cornwall, uk. Helston flora day 2017, the lovely midday dance, celebrating the passing of winter and the arrival of spring although the weather was far from. This is the formal dance of flora day, with the men wearing morning dress and ladies in. With stalls and a funfair too, this is a fab family day out. The helston flora day stewards, unfortunately, have taken the decision to cancel flora day for 2020 due to the coronavirus. From a little babe in arms youre taken out to see the dance first thing in the. Welcome to the newly created website for the helston flora horse show.
The date of the festival coincides with the feast of the apparition of. The main street and down towards the boating lakewill be buzzing with many stalls selling local souvenirs, cornish crafts and food and a big fairground and theres a. Hellys is a town and civil parish in cornwall, england, united kingdom. The annual flora dance, also known as the furry dance, is one of the uks oldest customs still practised today and is said to be a celebration of the passing of winter and the arrival of spring. Jan 24, 2017 the end of the last dance flora day 2016 jack curnow on drum. Helston holds annual flora dance more than 200 couples and 1,200 children have danced through shops and streets in helston, cornwall, as part of an annual festival. Helston s greatest claim to fame is the internationally famous festival of the furry, or flora dance. Find out whats on at your local cinema, see our latest listings, watch movie trailers, enter competitions and book online. The furry dance is halfway between a procession and a dance, and is unique to cornwall. Find out what to do on the day itself, for example dance times and parking. Thousands of people came from far and wide to helston flora day 2009. About information about flora day, such as history of the furry dance.
The halantow pageant, part of the helston flora day celebrations in cornwall, england. The date of the festival coincides with the feast of the apparition of st. Some eighty couples dance through the streets, entering selected houses and shops to drive out the darkness of winter and bring in the light of spring. Bought by merlin cinemas in 2004, the company have made it their mission to continue the resurgence of this twoscreen one of which is licensed cinema.
Participation is still by invitation only and there is no greater honour for a helstonian than to be asked to lead the dance. As one of the longest standing traditions in the uk little has changed in the furry dance. The flora dance melody, played during the celebrations every year by helston town band, is said to date back to a prechristian times. Dance notations formation processional dance for two couples ie duple minorin a line with ladies on the right.
To round off the day of dancing, the evening dance starts from the guildhall at 5pm. Helstons greatest claim to fame is the internationally famous festival of the furry, or flora dance. Helston flora day morning and evening leading dancers announced. Movies, games, music, anime, tv shows and software. I have not yet found the revised details anywhere but please check this nearer the time with the bus company website or direct to avoid any problems. Helston flora day porthleven message board tripadvisor. Also worn is the traditional flower of the dance lilly of the valley.
Organiser nigel pascoe speaks for the flora day assoication. The first dance starts at 7am, leaving from the town hall. Helston flora horse show takes place every year just before flora day. Every year around eighty couples dance through the streets, entering houses and shops to drive out the darkness of winter and bring in the light of spring. Many equestrian competitions and events take place during the day, the helston flora horse show began during world war ii to raise money for the red cross.
All participants wear a sprig of lily of the valley. One of the most famous of all traditional british festivals is floral or flora day or more correctly as the furryfrom the cornish fer latin feria, a fair, rejoicing holy day. A very well know processional dance tune from cornwall, by kate moss 1900. Beachside holiday park information on helston flora day. Perhaps helston s greatest claim to fame is the internationally famous festival of the furry, or flora dance. In helston, the couples literally dance for miles around the town.
With prechristian origins, this has to be one of the oldest festivals in cornwall in which the whole town takes part. This historic event is believed to have its roots stretching back prechristianity. Thousands of visitors throng the streets all day and theres a carnival atmosphere from dawn to well into the night. A festival which has taken place in helston since time immemorial, flora day is a unique celebration of the triumph of spring over winter. The leading dancers of this years flora day festival in helston have now been revealed these are the two pairs who will lead the morning dance and evening dance for the annual celebration on. Helston flora day article about helston flora day by the. May 07, 2016 1080p video the childrens dance, helston flora day 2016.
The helston flora day ancient furry dance 111 1 a performer with the halantow pageant takes part in a performance as part of the helston flora day celebrations on may 8, 2012 in. May 08, 2018 welcome to our blog of helston s flora day. Helston flora day 2016, the childrens dance duration. Dancing begins at 7am when the early morning dance takes to the. Flora day, as it is known, is always held on the 8th unless that happens to fall on a sunday or monday, in which case it is held of the saturday before.
Put to words in 1911 by london born composer katie moss, the lyrics are allegedly based on a true incident when, whilst visiting helston floral day, moss was grabbed by a stranger who enticed her to join in the. Asis copies of this score may be freely distributed. Today is the day when the good folk of helston dance through the streets to celebrate spring. Helstons youngsters took central stage mid morning for the childrens dance. The days festivities include the furry dance, which is performed in the streets by men in top hats and women in fancy dresses, and a trip to the woods in search of flowers and leaves. Perhaps helstons greatest claim to fame is the internationally famous festival of the furry, or flora dance. Helston s youngsters took central stage mid morning for the childrens dance. Helston, cornwall starting at the guildhall in the town centre when. Helston town band present their annual christmas concert sat 14th december at 7.
The helston flora day ancient furry dance 111 1 a performer with the halantow pageant takes part in a performance as part of the helston flora day celebrations on may 8. This is held every year on may 8th unless that day falls on a sunday or monday, when it is held on the preceding saturday. The centre of helston is closed to through traffic so you will need to park outside the town and walk. On the 8 th of may, shops and houses are bedecked with bluebells, gorse and greenery whilst five dances take place throughout the day.
Helston flora day the midday dance helston town band 7th may 2016 duration. One of the oldest surviving customs in the country a may day celebration to mark the coming of spring and the passing of winter. This ancient festival is usually held on may 8th, unless that date falls on a sunday or. The original rock has long since been broken up into building stones and used for local construction. In any case, today the event is known as helston flora day. Here you can find the schedule, rules and entry forms for the 20 show which is to be held on monday may 6th at nansloe farm. The flora day usually kicks off at 7am, at the guildhall, with a morning dance. Helston flora, midday furry dance please feel free to sharecommenttag or like, this photo and any other photos from my facebook page. Whatever the origin of this festival it has now degenerated into a silly romp. Helston flora day early may sees helston town celebrate the muchawaited coming of spring and passing of winter in its own unique and colourful way. Regardless of how it all started, flora day is helstons own way of welcoming in and showing thanks that spring has come to the county. The dance commences as soon as the helston town band start up their drums. This royalty free score was generated by the traditional music library on line tunebook shareware version. A dance often following the helston flora dance was the coinage hall dance also noted within this archive.
The origins of this famous celebration dance are more than likely prechristian and connected to ancient. Taking place on may 8 th unless 8 th is a sunday or monday, in which case it reverts to the previous saturday, the day draws people to the town in their thousands. Mar 14, 2018 the leading dancers of this years flora day festival in helston have now been revealed these are the two pairs who will lead the morning dance and evening dance for the annual celebration on. Flora day welcome to christophers estate agents covering. Thanks to les timmins for his photos the popular childrens dance begins at 10. It is situated at the northern end of the lizard peninsula approximately 12 miles 19 km east of penzance and 9 miles 14 km southwest of falmouth. This is the midday dance, traditionally the reserve of the gentry with top hats and tails worn by the men and finest frocks by the ladies. Helston flora day 2016, the childrens dance youtube. The helston furry dance has been added to 1 tune set. This is the ancient furry dance and was, in the past, reserved for the gentry of helston and the surrounding district. This decision has not been taken lightly, a great deal of time and planning has gone into the event, nevertheless, we feel strongly that the health, safety, and wellbeing of our dancers, hal an tow, band and general public must be our top priority.
Participation is still by invitation only and there is no greater honour for a helstonian than to be. The bus service via helston is always altered on flora day as the town centre is closed. Helston home of the furry dance 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. Flora cinema, helston events follow wheelchaircarer spaces cannot currently be booked online, so please contact the cinemas box office during normal opening hours to enquire about seat reservations andor other accessible facilities on 026 569977.
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