PACKET GALLERY: 28 photos of Helston Flora Day 2022 Hal-an-Tow

Helston Flora Day is not just about the dancing, with one of the oldest parts of the day actually the Hal-an-Tow.

The mobile pageant – which tells the story of St Michael defeating the devil, St George killing the dragon and arrival of St Piran to Cornwall – is a joyfully rowdy affair, with plenty of whoops, hollering and cheers, whistles, musical instruments and general merry-making.

Some version of the Hal-an-Tow song goes back to the 1600s, since the chorus was written down at that time, but the full verses were not recorded until the 1840s. It was abandoned in the nineteenth century, but revived again in 1930.

There was large crowd on Saturday to see it begin at St John's at 8.30am, immediately after the Morning Dance passed through, before it moved to other parts of the town including near the Grylls Monument and outside the Guildhall.

Other photo galleries from the day already live are: