Helston Furry Dance

[storeynicholas]

On 8th May, at dawn, each year, in Helston, Cornwall, the youngsters used to go out and bring in the May; that is to say the white may blossom from the hawthorn trees, which heralds the English (or should I say, Cornish) Spring. Some might still do this, but I doubt it. However, I have just seen a heartening little video clip which demonstrates that the town dance, the Furry Dance, still takes place through the main street at noon by the town clock. This is a twirling dance in twos, in which join, in file, all the physically capable of the town in their finery. The leading citizens (here one may still use such a term), are dressed in morning dress - the men in what we here all understand to constitute that (although I noticed that all the men in a topper were wearing unfortunate grey felt ones (drab shells)). But I also noticed that the men in morning dress were wearing gloves (which seem to be in desuetude even for the most formal occasions) and, in accordance with local custom, lily of the valley buttonholes. All the young women and older ladies wear frocks and hats. Those men not in morning dress wear a suit and the young girls wear white frocks and the boys shirts and ties. The whole thing is led off by the town band to the famous tune, sometimes called the Floral Dance. The event passes off peacefully and, presumably, they then all go off in best 'ros bif' fashion for various kinds of refreshments. What is my point in this ramble, some might groan? Well, it is simply this: in this quiet back-water of the world - nearly as far west as you can go in England - an ancient and great tradition is still observed and with that observance goes a continuing observance of suitable dress for the occasion. The trouble is that, all over the country, the celebration of many similar (if lesser)festivals (such as Saints' Feast days) are being abandoned and, with that abandonment, goes a good deal of social cohesion: a sense of community and comity of purpose and shared values and, as we lose those things, mayhem breaks out and we have to read, nearly daily, of murders by, and of, children and the increasing commission of miserable smaller crimes all over the country. It is a pity that more of England does not follow Helston's lead in keeping up the the local celebration of traditional festivals and events. It might even give the tailors a little more business. I am sure that, overall, everyone would be much happier.
NJS.

[RWS]

Delightful! Is it too much to hope that the video is available on line ("youtube", anyone?), with a link that could be posted?

. . . . all over the country, . . . many similar . . . festivals . . . are being abandoned and, with that abandonment, goes a good deal of social cohesion: a sense of community and comity of purpose and shared values and, as we lose those things, mayhem breaks out . . . .

Keen insight; customs and traditions avail for much more than diversion: that, I've no doubt, is one reason we find ourselves so strangely stirred when observing or participating in them.

[storeynicholas]

RWS - The link is www.thisiscornwall.co.uk - but it might have gone by now, as it was last week's news: tout lasse, tout casse; tout passe!! However, youtube might have something on the Furry Dance - I'll have a look tomorrow.
NJS

[storeynicholas]

It's still there- but All Ye on Eastern Coast Time - be quick!!
NJS.

[Frog in Suit]

Delightful! Thank you for posting. It was still on the site at 9:50 Paris time.

I wonder how many of those traditions are kept alive in odd places in the UK or Continental Europe, under the international media radar.

Frog in Suit

[RWS]

In my childhood, Frog, there even were still a few in the United States -- Morris dances in the odd corner of New England, a form of jousting in Virginia -- despite the fact that homogenizing (how many ways can we say, "bland"?) influences had already been at work more than a generation. Today, I think, almost none continues as a spontaneous, deeply felt expression of, among other emotions, community and corporate desire.

[storeynicholas]

There is still the 'Obby 'Oss in Padstow in May - probably originally a fertility right which dates from heathen times (and just as appropriate to day as it ever was) but now it is just a procession headed by a man in a mask riding a hobby horse. There is the day of the Lord of Misrule in Fowey - when there is a carnival and a citizen (preferably not the most sober one) is elected the Lord of Misrule of the town for 1 day and he or she may (within the law) do as they please for 24 hours. Once this dignitary is elected, the citizens lie on their backs, around the town quay, shaking their legs in the air, making a whooping sound (this is all perfectly true). There are other places in England where they roll cheeses down hills and such like but none of these involves wearing anything especially smart, let alone morning dress; which was the reason that I fell upon the Furry Dance. Looking at the video clip again, if it were in monochrome, the scene could almost have been from anytime in the last 100 years and there is, as RWS says (especially as they dance around the pond), something stirring about a demonstration of a body of people united in celebration. Of course, Rio de Janeiro does not lack a united celebration in its great Carnaval in February but this is most remarkable for what is not worn rather than what is and, speaking for myself, I make no complaint in relation to national variations in costume. On occasions like Rio's Carnaval, there is certainly an arguable case for the sporting of little more than well-positioned Rhea feathers.
NJS

[storeynicholas]

The cheese rolling competition in Gloucestershire is reported on www.yahoo.com homepage today. Apparently, despite the fact that it is also reported to be (in accordance with every expectation) a wet Monday Bank Holiday, they went to it regardless.
NJS