  The celebration of "Furry Day," on May 8th each year, at Helston, in South Cornwall, is one of the most interesting survivals of an old custom in the whole country. On "Furry Day" the whole town makes holiday. The people go first into the surrounding country to gather flowers and branches, and return about noon, when the Furry dance begins and continues until dusk; the merrymakers, hand in hand, dancing through the streets and in and out of the houses, the doors of which are kept open for the purpose. The origin of the word "Furry," and of the song and dance, is lost in the ages. Some authorities hold that these celebrations are a survival of the old Roman Floralia, others that it began in celebration of a great victory gained by the Cornish over the Saxons. The words and music, as they have come down to us, show many signs of Elizabethan origin. The music reproduced here is from a very old setting and contains many crude harmonies unfamiliar at the present day. There is one line of the song, "God bless Aunt Mary Moses," that most people will find incomprehensible. It refers to the Virgin Mary, "Aunt" being among the Cornish a term of great respect; "Moses" being a corruption of the old Cornish word "Mowes," a maid. "Mary Moses" means literally "Mary the Maid." (Listen to MIDI version of the above) Robin Hood and little John, They both are gone to fair, O! And we will go to the merry green wood To see what they do there, O! And for to chase, O! To chase the buck and doe. With Halantow, Rumble Ow! For we were up as soon as any day, O! And for to fetch the Summer home, The Summer and the May, O! For Summer is a-come, O! And Winter is a-gone, O! Where are those Spaniards, That make so great a boast, O? They shall eat the grey goose feather, And we will eat the roast, O, In every land, O, The land where'er we go. With Halantow, &c. As for Saint George, O, Saint George he was a Knight, O! Of all the Knights in Christendom, Saint Georgy is the right, O! In every land, O, The land where'er we go. With Halantow, &c. God bless Aunt Mary Moses, And all her powers and might, O, And send us peace in merry England, Both day and night, O, And send us peace in merry England, Both now and evermore, O! With Halantow, &c. (Listen to MIDI version of the above) The simple air only of "The Furry Dance" is given here. It was probably originally played by a musician on the pipe, accompanying himself on the tabor. Remote Cornwall is still full of queer old customs and survivals of other days. Helston, the "Metropolis" of that picturesque wild district near the Lizard, forms a perfect setting for this interesting relic of the past, and an ideal centre for those who wish to enjoy the beauties and mystery of one of the most remote corners of our island. The Furry Dance To-day The Furry Dance To-day |
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