Furry Dancing
From the collection of
From the collection of
Welcoming the blessings of Summer, driving out the memory of Winter and chasing away the devil with dancing and singing in Helston. The early morning brings crowds of people to watch the Hal an Tow. At 10am it is the children's turn to dance, with more than 800 taking part this year - the girls with garlands in their hair and the boys with button holes of lily of the valley, the flower that symbolises the Furry Dance.
At 12 noon it's the biggest event, the Principal Dance, by invitation only. You need to have been born in Helston to lead. Today the honours go to Sally Collins and Richard Brown, and Allison Hawker and Roger James. The dancers follow the mayor through the streets, gardens, houses and shops, in through the front door and out through the back to cast out evil spirits for another year.