St Piran's Day is the national day of the people of Cornwall, held on 5 March every year. The day is named after one of the patron saints of Cornwall, Saint Piran. St Piran's Day started as one of the many tinners' holidays observed by the tin miners of Cornwall. Other miners' holidays of a similar nature include Picrous Day and Chewidden Thursday. There is little description of specific traditions associated with this day. However, many observers noted the large consumption of alcohol and food during 'Perrantide'. The day following the St Piran's Day was known by many as 'Mazey Day', a term which has now been adopted by the revived Golowan festival in Penzance. The phrase 'drunk as a perraner' was used in 19th century Cornwall to describe people who had consumed large quantities of alchohol

Further reading The Traditional St Pirans Day according to Robert Hunt (Popular Romances of the West of England)

The modern observance of St Piran's day as a national symbol of the people of Cornwall started in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Since the 1950s, the celebration has become increasingly observed and since the start of the 21st century almost every Cornish community holds some sort of celebration to mark the event. Saint Piran's Flag is also seen flying throughout Cornwall on this day. If you are celebrating St Piran's day in any way in 2009 please contact info@cornishculture.co.uk and get free advertising for you event.

St Piran's Parade in Penzance 2005

St Piran's Day Events 2009

An event list will appear here later this year.