St Pirans 2010
The Cornish colours of black & gold line the streets of Penzance.
Each year celebrations are held in Cornwall to celebrate the Cornish patron saint of St Piran. Celebrations begin with a parade in Penzance, school children join musicians as hundreds of people take to the streets in celebration. See here
The National flag of Cornwall is the flag of St Piran, it is said to represent the white tin on the black ore, and some say St Piran is the saint of tinners.
The Tinners town of Redruth, the flag of St Piran flying high above the town
Legend has it that in the fifth century St Piran was thrown from a cliff in Ireland with a stone around his neck, he landed on the beach in Perranporth.
Since then people have made pilgrimage to the oratory he built in the sand dunes high on the cliffs at Perranporth. He also built a small chapel on the beach which still stands today called chapel rock.
Chapel Rock Perranporth
Today's Perran on the dunes Perranporth
Slide show of the Piran play when thousands of people take to the dunes in celebration of St Piran!
For Cornish goods visit Cornish Heritage
