Legend has it that St Piran who was of Irish descent, crossed the sea from Ireland and landed at Perranporth sometime during the 6th Century. The cornish people flocked to see him at his chapel in the sand dunes from where he begana to spread the word of Christianity.
Picture source http://www.ukflagshop.com/
It is said that he accidentally discovered tin when a black stone on his fireplace became so hot that white liquid leaked out from it ... the very first occurance of tin smelting and hence his title of Patron Saint for Tinners. Tin mining was to become hugely important within Cornwall. We're often asked by our visitors about the Black & White flag of Cornwall, proudly flown as a recognised symbol across the county. It is believed that the two colours within the flag recognise this legend.
St Piran's Day is celebrated in several Cornish towns. Each year the story of St Piran is retold in a drama on the sand dunes in Perranporth on the Sunday nearest to March 5 and on the same day here in Bude we have our very own St Piran's Day Walk where locals follow a piper out across Summerleaze Downs.
The date is even celebrated in Grass Valley California to honor the Cornish miners who helped in the mines there in the mid 19th century.
In 2006, Cornish MP Dan Rogerson asked the government to make the 5th March a public holiday in Cornwall to recognise celebrations for St Piran's Day and more recently there has been a petition for the holiday. In 2011 Cornwall Council voted in favour of asking the government to make St Piran's Day a bank holiday in Cornwall should they decide to move the May Day Bank Holiday.
We're still waiting for that one but Mr Rogerson is calling again this year on the Government to make St Piran’s Day a public holiday to allow people to celebrate Cornwall’s national day.
http://budeandbeyond.co.uk/dan-rogerson-calls-for-st-pirans-day-holiday/
A very Happy St Piran's Day to the People of Cornwall and to all those who love this most unique and beautiful county.
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