Gool Peran Lowen – Happy St Piran's Day! Celebrate Cornwall's national day and one of its saints with our St Piran's Day guide, including a look at the history behind the day and how it's marked today.
- Best walks in Cornwall, a county with a rugged, breathtaking tapestry of dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves
- Best dog-friendly walks in Cornwall
When is St Piran's Day 2025?
St Piran's Day is on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
Who was St Piran?
St Piran was a bishop and is the patron saint of tin miners, as well as a patron saint of Cornwall (alongside St Michael and St Petroc). Legend has it that St Piran was actually Irish in origin, and was tied to a millstone and flung into the sea by a king. He washed up on Perran Beach in Perranporth, and he built a small chapel by the beach. St Piran is also credited with discovering tin, after noticing that a black rock was leaking a white liquid in the heat.
How is St Piran's Day celebrated?
St Piran's Day is celebrated with music, plays and eating traditional Cornish food. The St Piran Play takes places on the sand dunes near Perranporth and recreates the life of St Piran. Parades and concerts, often with sea shanties, take place in Cornish towns.
- History of the sea shanty: When were seafarers' songs first sung and what were they used for?
- Best sea shanties: These catchy seafaring tunes will have you singing loud, stamping proud – and reaching for a tankard of warm, flat ale
What is St Piran's Day in Cornish?
St Piran's Day is 'Gool Peran' in Cornish.
- Guide to the UK's National Trails: history and walking routes
- 7 fantastic National Trust walks in Cornwall
Why is the Cornish flag black and white?
The Cornish flag, also known as the Flag of St Piran, represents the white tin flowing from the black rocks.
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