Questions about Calendar Customs (The Last Sheaf)

Reference code: FOL.QUES/19
Level of description: Series
Title: Questions about Calendar Customs (The Last Sheaf)
Scope and content: 1. Is any significance or ceremony attached to the cutting of the last sheaf in the corn harvest; if not still observed, was there any such ceremony observed in the past? (Even an approximate date for the most recent example of which you have heard will help.)
2. Is or was the ceremony of cutting the last sheaf followed by any kind of celebration, e.g. a supper, a dance, or singing? Give as full details as possible.
3. By which of the following names was the last sheaf called in your district, and is this word or words still used? Do you know of any other word or words not included in this list? If so, please add it/them at the end of the list. Please indicate whether these words, if used, were usual, less common, or rare.
CAILLEACH
CARLIN
CARLY
CHURN
CORN DOLLY
(OUL’) GRANNY
HARE
KIRM
QUIRLE
4. Was the last sheaf put to any special use (for example, fed to any animals, and if so, which ones and why), or was it simply disposed of (if so, how and why), or was it kept until the next harvest (if so, what happened to it then), or was it ever given to any particular person, and if so, who was that person and why was it given to him especially?
5. Please describe as fully as possible, on the back of this form –
(i) What the last sheaf looked like (was it an ordinary sheaf, or was it specially plaited, or did it take any other form?)
(ii) The ceremony of cutting the last sheaf (who was involved, how the cutting was done, what happened to it after it was cut?)
(iii) The harvest time celebration or supper (or any other festivity or ceremony connected with the cutting of the last sheaf)
(iv) Any reason given locally why the whole ceremony existed
(v) Any reason given locally why one of the words listed in question 3 was used
In addition, please write down any other details known to you or which you have collected from others that have any bearing on the last sheaf; for instance, any stories, anecdotes, or folk tales about it.