Hello Dear Reader,
Wherever you are in the world at 7am GMT, you can tune into Radio Cornwall via the internet and hear the first dance of the morning from Helston. The first dance of the morning was traditionally known as the servants' dance. The Hal-an-tow pageant is at 8.30. The children's dance is at 9.40. There are four local schools: Helston Community College, St Michael's, Parc Eglos and Nansloe schools. The children all wear white and each school sports a different flower, worn by the girls. The mid-day dance sees everyone dressed in their finery with ladies in flowing dresses and hats and the gents in morning suits with top hats. The adults wear lily of the valley.The day is rounded off with the Evening Dance starting at 5pm. Not everyone can dance..........you have to be Helstonian.
Each dance winds it way through Helston's narrow streets and totals four miles...............try doing that in a ball gown, heels, hat and a sprig of lily of the valley!
Here is the link to Radio Cornwall and at 7am GMT - you can listen live - I haven't been to Helston since I was a child and taken by my parents. I hear that sound and I'm a child and there again! You can listen too.
LIVE FROM HELSTON 7AM GMT
Here's the children's dance from a few years ago. I actually find the chit chat of the mums in the back ground pointing out the local children as part of the charm. All over the world there are 'swim mums', 'soccer mums', 'rugby mums' well these are the 'Helston Floral Dance mums'. Go ladies!
If you ever get the chance to visit Cornwall, then the first nine days in May are perfect. Padstow 'Obby 'Oss day on May day and Helston's Floral Day on the 8th. Two wonderful Cornish traditions.
If you hear the sound at 7am, think of me, I'll be listening too!
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxx