Questions about The Harvest Supper

Reference code: FOL.QUES/47
Level of description: Series
Title: Questions about The Harvest Supper
Scope and content: 1. Was it customary in your area to celebrate the end of harvest with a special meal? Was there a special name for it?
2. Is this still the custom? If not, when did it die out? What were the reasons for its dying out?
3. Was this celebration held at the end of the grain harvest only, or were there separate harvest suppers to mark the end of the hay harvest? Were the ends of other crop seasons marked in this way?
4. What other celebrations marked the end of harvest? e.g. special church services, etc.
5. Was this special meal regarded by participants as a form of payment for labour?
6. Was a separate supper held on each farm, or did neighbours take turns to provide one supper for a wide area? Was it a communal affair held in a local hall?
7. Was the harvest supper held on the last day of harvest? If not, state when it was held. At what time of day or evening did it take place?
8. Who was invited to this meal? Were there any special guests, e.g. clergymen, schoolmasters, etc., who had not taken part in the harvest?
9. How did people dress for harvest suppers? Did they wear Sunday clothes?
10. Where was the meal held – outdoors, barn, farm kitchen, etc.?
11. Was entertainment provided during the meal – fiddler, concertina player, etc.? If so, who paid him?
12. Was there any difference between the sort of entertainment provided by small farmers and that provided on the larger farms? Were there some farms which had no entertainment at all?
13. Was there entertainment after the meal? If so, what form did it take? Was there any special game or activity associated with harvest suppers?
14. Was the custom of cutting the last sheaf practised in your area? Was the last sheaf displayed during the harvest supper? Were there other decorations?
15. Were there any games associated with the last sheaf or the last load?
16. Was the harvest supper a sit-down meal? If so, can you describe how the tables were laid?
17. Was all the food put on the table at once, or was it served in courses? Who did the serving?
18. Was the food usually hot or cold, or were both kinds served? Was there a special dish associated with the harvest supper?
19. Who prepared the food? Were different foods served according to farm size?
20. What happened to leftover food? Was any of it distributed to poor or needy families? Was it given to guests to take away? Used by the family?
21. Was there an order of precedence at the table?
22. Did the farmer sit at the same table with the workers at harvest time? Did he eat with his workers the rest of the year? If necessary, distinguish between different classes of farmers? Did he eat with workers in the field at harvest time?
23. Were children seated at another table, at one end of the same table, beside their parents?
24. Were there any special customs associated with serving or eating food at harvest suppers?
25. Were there any special graces for the harvest supper? If you can remember any, please list them overleaf. Were speeches made after the meal? By whom?
26. What beverages were provided? Was alcohol consumed? Was it provided by the host, or did those who wanted it bring their own?
27. Were the workers paid extra at harvest time or at any other time of the year? Or were they given a regular wage throughout the year?