COUNTRYFOLK Dollies and Lover’s Knots Maureen James takes a look at some fascinating harvest customs

"’Tis but a thing of ” they say, see and all the workers would gather round favour” plus details of events, exhibitions and Yet even straw can sturdy be and cheer. Then one of the old men would courses around the country. Amalthea's Horn plaited into doll like me. make a “corn dolly” from this corn in which the is also known as the “cornucopia” or “horn of And in the days of long ago spirit of the crop could be preserved. In some plenty”. It was said that the infant Zeus was to help the seeds once more to grow places, including Kent the “dolly” could not be given goats' milk by Amalthea. Zeus, to show I was an offering to the gods. put down and could take 8 hours to make. his gratitude, broke off one of the goat's A very simple way indeed Originally the “corn dolly” would be shaped horns, and gave it to her, with the promise that of asking them to intercede into a straw cage to house the spirit of the the possessor should have ‘plenty’ of what that barn and granary o’erflow corn. This later involved into the shape of a they desired. According to the folklorist Steve at harvest time, with fruit and corn sheaf of corn of an actual dolly shape. It would Roud, the name corn dolly was not invented to fill again Amalthea’s horn*.” symbolically give thanks for the years harvest until the 1940s when the craft of elaborate Minnie Lambeth (1957) and also ensure the success of the next. The straw-work was evolving. Other names for it “dolly” would then be taken back to the farm are the corn maiden, harvest doll, harvest THE above poem was written, originally house (sometimes with more customs taking mare, harvest queen, kern or kirn baby, the anonymously, by Minnie Lambeth of Fulbourn, place such as others stopping the path of the hag, or the neck. ■ Cambs when she was inspired by the sight of carrier). It would have pride of place on the top a countryman’s favour lying in the road, when table at the “end of harvest” feast and would she was out on her bicycle. At that time she finally be hung above the door in the Favourite ‘Corn Dolly’ designs was investigating country crafts for the local farmhouse or barn until the following Cambs – handbell, umbrella museum and she picked up this little spring. At this time the dolly would – Crown, the neck piece of plaited straw and be taken back to the fields to Durham – Chandelier determined to investigate it. This be buried or burnt in the – terret (part of a horse harness) sparked a life long interest in first furrow, or just carried Hereford – lantern straw crafts which included round to ensure fertility. Kent – Ivy Girl the publication of books on As time went by the Lancs – Chandelier the subject, including the mechanisation of Lincs – fly catcher Shire Publication “Corn harvesting saw the – terret Dollies2 in 1974. end of the gangs of Northants – horn or yoke Minnie found out that in reapers with their Northumberland – kern baby the past (at least until the hooks. This plus the Somerset – cider flask and apple mid 1900s), after going change to new Staffs – knot to evening service in the shorter types of – horseshoe and whip, basket, bell church, young couples straw led to the Wilts – cornucopia (horn of plenty) would often go for a walk practice of making Yorks – spiral, chalice, candlestick, chandelier across the fields. At harvest corn dollies almost Wales – fan time, just before reaping, dying out. Fortunately boys would weave little some people such as twisted straw emblems to wear Minnie Lambeth kept the in their button holes, and these interest alive. Alongside her they would give to their sweethearts. were women such as Mrs Eileen The girls would wear these Mason who carried on making ■ A traditional ‘corn dolly’ “Countryman’s Favours”, “Lover’s the dollies, having been taught Tokens” or “Harvest Knots” over their hearts. to plait the straw by her mother, she used to This research also led Minnie to look at the love sitting out in the field on a Saturday night corn dollies that were made at harvest time making corn dollies from the fresh straw. and into the beliefs behind these customs. With the revival of interest in country crafts, She found that people thought that the corn the making of corn dollies increased. Individual spirit (or to some people– the goddess) lived in counties began to adopt their own styles, the the field and that it would die if the corn was majority of which could never be made from thrashed. As the harvesting took place the growing tufts (a list of these styles is included spirit would move until the last sheaf as left below). Alongside this there were numerous standing. This sheaf was then cut using a craft demonstrations at Women’s Institutes variety of different traditions. Often the last few and Young Farmer’s Clubs. For more stalks left standing were tied together and the information on corn dollies and straw men took it in turns to throw their sickles craftspeople in your area see the website of (sometimes backwards or wearing a blindfold) the Guild of Straw Craftsmen at to see who could cut them down. This last strawcraftsmen.co.uk - this website also gives shock of corn would then be held up for all to instructions on how to make a “countryman’s ■ A horseshoe shaped ‘dolly’

September 2009 smallholder.co.uk Smallholder 19