Happy St. Piran’s Day!
March 5th is celebrated in Cornwall as St Piran’s Day. He is the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners but what else do we know about him?
He was born in Ireland, in the 5th Century, where, after studying in Rome, he was made a Bishop. Legend says that he performed many miracles but this sadly offended the Kings of Ireland who had him flung into the sea with a millstone around his neck!
Miraculously, he floated across the water to Cornwall where he landed on what is now called Perranporth Beach and it was here that he built a chapel.
It was St Piran who supposedly discovered tin when a black stone on his fire leaked out a white liquid! It was this that gave us the Cornish Flag, the Flag of St Piran-a white cross on a black background, which represents white tin flowing out of the black granite rock, or good overcoming evil.
St Piran is said to have lived for 200 years but was fond of a drink and finally met his death by falling down a well!