Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-27
A HEArurN Fpsr5v.1 IN Exer.xn

| A HEATHER FESTIVAL IN ENGLAND-In the
midst of so much modern dissent and of mild
attempts at rtualism, there still exists relic of
| a worship far more ancient than any ceremony
| which Romanist observe or ritualst would re-
| store-the worship of the Goddess of Spring,
| the festival dear to the heart of every " one OF
Helston," and to very many of West Cornwall,
the Z" Helston Floral Day." or, to give it the
popular, which is also the true name. the
Furry Day." This curious festival is held
yearly on the Sth of May, and as a fading relic
of antiquity, a description of it embodying
many past experiences, may amuSe those of
our readers who, in the rapid whirl of present
events, still find time for an occasional glance
at the past. On the morning of the Sth the
houses of HelSton are decorated with flowers,
the doors and gateways of many of them with
arches made of bOughS. In ancient times
the people used early in the morning to
fade or "fadgy - Anglice, 90 into
the country and bring in the flowers
and boughs to adorn the town. Even so late as
last year, the traces of this custom were seen in
music and dancing in the streets at break of
day, and even earlier, which broke the slumbers
of those who get their best sleep toward the
morning, making them start up and condemn
the Furry and its votaries to the limbo of all
departed things. The more formal and regular
ceremonial, however, begins at midday, when
procession is formed, headed by the town
constables carrying halberts ornamented with
flowers and ribbons; these are followed by a
Da1u praying tne furry tune; then follows
what is called the "First Party" consisting of
the principal ladies and gentlemen of the town
and neighborhood, two and two after their
kind, dancing the ancient Furry" dance. This
dance, not to be seen out of Cornwall and in
fact only in this west part of it, we cannot bet
ter describe than by saying it consists of the
gentleman giving his partner slow turn as
| if in funeral waltz, and constant exchange
of partners between the two couples who
walk next each other, and who are locally
said to exchange" with each other. No tune
but the Furry is played. The procession dances
down the streets, through certain houses and
gardens which from time immemorial have
been open to the dancers, through the Gram
mar school, across the Bowling green, until
having made the circuit of the town, the party
and the crowd which follows them reach the
spot whence they started, when they 90 into the
assembly room, and finish with q country
dance. The same houses are yearly, and from
time whereof the memory of man runneth not
to the contrary have been, visited in exactly the
same order. The second party, consisting of
the leading tradesmen of the town, is then
formed, and observes exactly the same cere-
monial in exactly the same order. The third
party, of servants and the working class, fol-
lows; and the days rejoicings finish up with
| the Furry ball in the assembly room at the
Angel Inn. The balance of authorities is in
| favor of the opinion that the Furry is of pagan
| origin, introduced into Cornwall by either the
| Ph9nicians, the Greeks, or the Romans, and
that it is rite in honor of the spirit or goddess
| of vegetation, and in celebration of the return
of SPRING ReLJJ03i0