Handbook of Country Crafts [antikvár]

The violent origins of the corn dollyThe intricately woven straw decorations that brighten churches throughout Britain at the time of HarvestFestival have their origins not in the Christian religion but in beliefs and ideas stretching back into pre-history.The celebration of the harvest is steeped in legend and mythology, and centres around the story of Ceres, the Earth Mother, goddess of all that grows out of the earth.It is still the custom in some areas for farmers to leave a row of wheat standing in the fields at the end of the harvest in the belief that bad luck will befall them if it is cut. The legend is that Ceres hides in the corn. In some parts of Northamptonshire, until theThe Bridget Cross is an Irish version of the corn dollies that decorate churches atharvest time. Their origins stretch back to pagan worship of Ceres, the Earth Mother