September is always our Harvest Meeting and this year we welcomed Hazel Mark who came and spoke about the history and traditions of corn dollies.
We started the meeting with the hymn Bringing in the Sheaves which was sung before Judy Lobb introduced Hazel.
Corn dollies have been hand woven for thousands of years to celebrate the gathering in of the harvest. It was thought that the spirit of the harvest lived in the field and when the last sheaf was cut the stalks of corn would be woven and taken to be placed indoors and looked after until the following harvest to secure a good crop.
Hazel also showed us examples of Countrymans Favours that would be worn on hats or above the heart to indicate that the wearer was available and open to offers of courtship.
Reverend Robert Hawker started the Harvest Festival as we know it in 1843 although harvest has always been a very important part of the agricultural calender. The Crying the Neck tradition was revived in Cornwall in 1920’s and has seen an increase in more recent years.
Hazel gave out small corn dollies to members before going on to judge the competition which was a harvest mouse in any medium’
1st Liz Capp 2nd Margaret Fryett 3rd Brenda Harris
Flower of the Month 1st Margaret Fryett 2nd Barbara Varcoe 3rd Liz Capp
We next meet on Friday 11th October to discuss the celebrations to mark the WI’s 75th birthday which will be a party on Saturday 12th October 2.30 – 5.30pm in Withiel village hall which we have opened to everyone in Withiel parish and various groups that meet in the hall.
Erica
