The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 7 of 12) - Mirrors

183preserved in the farmer's parlour for the remainder of the year.The bonny lass who cut this handful of grain was deemed theHar'st Queen”. 512 To cut the last portion of standing corn inthe harvest field was known as “to get the kirn” or “to win thekirn”; and as soon as this was done the reapers let the neighboursknow that the harvest was finished by giving three cheers, whichwas called “to cry or shout the kirn.” 513 Where the last handful [153]of standing corn was called the churn, the stalks were roughlyplaited together, and the reapers threw their sickles at it till someone cut it through, which was called “cutting the churn.” Thesevered churn (that is, the plaited corn) was then placed overthe kitchen door or over the hob in the chimney for good luck,and as a charm against witchcraft. 514 In Kent the Ivy Girl is, orused to be, “a figure composed of some of the best corn the fieldproduces, and made as well as they can into a human shape; thisis afterwards curiously dressed by the women, and adorned withpaper trimmings, cut to resemble a cap, ruffles, handkerchief,etc., of the finest lace. It is brought home with the last load ofcorn from the field upon the waggon, and they suppose entitlesthem to a supper at the expense of the employer.” 515In some parts of Scotland, as well as in the north of England,the last handful of corn cut on the harvest-field was called thekirn, and the person who carried it off was said “to win the kirn.”512 R. Chambers, The Book of Days (Edinburgh, 1886), ii. 377 sq. Theexpression “Corn Baby” used by the writer is probably his interpretation ofthe correct expression kirn or kern baby. See above, p. 151, note 3. It is notclear whether the account refers to England or Scotland. Compare F. Grose,Provincial Glossary (London 1811), s.v. “Kern-baby,” “an image dressed upwith corn, carried before the reapers to their mell-supper, or harvest-home”; J.Brand, Popular Antiquities, ii. 20; W. Henderson, Folk-lore of the NorthernCounties of England, p. 87.513 Joseph Wright, The English Dialect Dictionary, iii. (London, 1902) s.v.“Kirn,” p. 453.514 Joseph Wright, The English Dialect Dictionary, i. (London, 1898) p. 605.515 J. Brand, Popular Antiquities, ii. 21 sq.The last corn cutcalled the kirnin some parts ofScotland. Thekirn cut by reapersblindfold.