The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-12-08
HARVEST HOME SEASON.
Various Forms of Celebration That
Prevail in Different Lands-
Quaint Customs.

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-husling festival is peculiar
to New England. Great yellow and red
ears of corn are piled in a heap in the
barn, which is gayly decorated with
fruits and autumn flowers. Festoons
OF apple parings decorate doors and
windows, 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 horn
Crack Nut Night is the name of 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 Greek drama, the
stage settings, costumes and environ
ments being all classic. Some spot is
chosen for the festival which presents
natural amphitheater. The Olympic
games are represented with javelin and
discus throwing and running and
wrestling. The libations at the affairs
ct 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 mel supper is anothe- name
for this festival. When the sickle is laid
down and the last sheaf set on end it is
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 a white frock and colored
| ribbons, is hoisted on a pole by the tall
est and strongest men of the party All
circle around the 'kern baby" or har-
vest queen, and proceed to the barn,
where they set the image on high and
proceed to do justice to the harvest sup
per. :
In Scotland the dressed sheaf is
called "the maiden" and is fixed up like
a doll. The youngest girl in the har-
vest field has the privilege of cutting
1.-THE maiden" It's head is formed of
ears of oats; broad blue ribbon is tied
In bow around the neck, and skirt
OF paper completes the costume. In
some parts of Scotland the last sheaf
is known as the "clyack" or "cailleach"
(old woman). It has white cap, a
dress, a little shawl over the shoulders,
fastened with sprig of heather, an
apron turned up to form a pocket,
which is stuffed with bread and cheese,
and a sickle is stuck in the string of the
apron at the back. At the harvest feast
the "cailleach'' is placed at the head of
the table, the company drink to her
and in the evening the lads dance with
her.
In Cornwall the last sheaf is called
"the neck" and is gayly decked with
ribbons. In Devonshire small guam
tity of the ears of the last corn is tied
together into curious kind of figure,
which is brought home with great ac-
clamation. hung up over the table and
kept till the next year. It is called a
"knack," and bad luck betide the house.
hold which parts with tn. Y. Trib-