St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-12-31
HARVEST HOME SEASON.
Various Forms Of Celebration That
Prevail In Different Lands-
Quaint Customs.

OF all autumn customs harvest
home" is one of the Oldest, and has been
celebrated in different ways and with
degrees of jollity in every country from
time immemorial.
The corn-husking festival is peculiar
to New England. Great yellow and red
ears of corn are piled in heap in the
barn, which is gayly decorated with
fruits and autumn flowers. Festoons
OF apple parings decorate doors and
indows, and there are plenty of jack
o-lanterns. After the husking follow
supper and dance, or possibly straw
ride by the light of the hunters moon.
Sometimes the load of corn is brought
to the barn by oxen with gilded horns.
Crack Nut Night is the name of a har-
vest festival peculiar to some old towns
In Connecticut. Quantities of nuts OF
all kinds. with apples and cider. are
consumed. Games wind up the even
ing.
In California the vintage festival
takes the place of the harvest home.
The occasion is often celebrated by the
presentation of a Greek drama, the
sage settings. costumes and environ
ments being all classic. Some spot is
chosen for the festival which presents a
natural amphitheater. The Olympic
games are represented with javelin and
discus throwing and running and
wrestling The libations at the altars
of the gods are of pure wine.
Many quaint old customs survive in
England. One which is connected with
the feast of ingathering. or harvest
home, is the "kern supper" which is
given to the laborers by the farmer on
the completion of the cutting of the
corn.
The "mell supper" is another name
| for this festival. When the sickle is laid
down and the last sheaf set on end il il
said that they have got the KERN
the fact being announced by loud
shouting on the part Of the reapers, and
an image. crowned with wheat and
dressed in white frock and coloret
ribbons, is hoisted on pole by the tall
est and strongest men of the party. Al
| circle around the .kern baby" or har
vest queen, and proceed to the barn
where they set the image on high ant
proceed to do justice to the harvest sup
per.
| In Scotland the dressed sheaf j.
| called 1.-The maiden" and is fixed up liks
a doll. The youngest girl in the har
vest field has the privilege of cutting
"the maiden" Its head is formed o.
ears of oats: broad blue ribbon is tied
in a bow around the neck, and a skir'
of paper completes the costume. II
some parts of Scotland the last shea
is known as the "clyack" or "cailleach'
fold woman). 1t has a white cap.
dress. a little shawl over the shoulders
fastened with sprig of heather. al
apron turned up to form a pocket
which is stuffed with bread and cheese
and a sickle is stuck in the string of th'
apron at the back. At the harvest feas
the "cailleach" is placed at the head o
the table. the company drink to he
and in the evening the lads dance will
her.
In Cornwall the last sheaf is calle'
"the neck" and is gayiy decked witt
ribbons. In Devonshire small quan
tity Of the ears Of the last corn is tie'
together into a curious kind of figure
which is brought home with great &C
clamation. hung up over the table an
kept till the next year. 1t il called
"knack." and bad luck betide the house
hold which parts with it.-N. Y. Trit
| uEe