Helston is nestled on the estuary of the river Helford, and holds the Furry Dance (Flora Dance) every year on the 8th May. Couples dance through the streets, top hatted dancers lead their ladies in their colourful ball gowns, while Helston Brass Band plays the Furry Dance tune. This tradition was originally a pagan festival saying farewell to winter and welcoming in the Spring. The children dance through the streets in the morning, all wearing white costumes. The main dance starts at midday. Everyone from the dancers to the band members all wear Lily of the Valley, the flower of Helston. St George also attends battling with the dragon.
But this year, as it is a virtual Furry Dance, someone has hidden the town band’s big bass drum and we have to find it pals. Once we’ve found the drum then the band can hen play the traditional Furry Dance Song so everyone can sing along!
While they’re all singing there’s a 4 question quiz and the answers are all in the intel article as usual and after that think up your own caption for the caption pic competition.
That’s it XPets!
Let’s find that drum and have some fun!
See you there pals! There’s fresh baked pasties for everyone after the adventure! Virtual ones of course!
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FULL INTEL ON OUR MISSION
(the answers to the quiz are in this article)

The Furry Dance takes place every year normally on the 8th of May, but this year due to Covid it will be a virtual event. The Furry Dance dates back to ancient times, and was originally a pagan festival saying farewell to winter and welcoming in the spring. Nowadays it is very different to the original festival. Coming from the Celtic word ‘Feur’ meaning festival the celebrations commence early in the morning. The houses and shops in the town are decorated with flowers and foliage, even the lamp posts and anything flowers or leaves can be tied.
The children of the town, all dressed in white, dance through the streets. The main dance, consisting of men in morning suits and top hats lead their ladies in their colourful ball gowns, dancing through the streets of the town. The gentlemen wear a spray of Lily of the Valley, the flower of the town. They wear the spray on the left with the flowers pointing upward, the ladies wear theirs upside down pointing downwards. Everyone participating wears Lily of the Valley, from the dancers, bandsmen, stewards and all those Helston born. The town brass band play The Furry Dance tune all the while the couples dance. There is also a parade of local people dressed in green leaves and foliage representing the green man and the woodland nymphs of spring. St George also makes an appearance battling the fearsome dragon. The final dance of the day commences around 5pm. The Furry Dance music was never written down and the band plays from memory every year.

Location

Helston TR13, UK