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Harvest Corn Dolly Workshop
Description
Corn dollies or corn mothers are a form of straw work made as part of harvest customs of Europe before mechanization.
Before Christianisation, in traditional pagan European culture it was believed that the spirit of the corn lived amongst the crop, and that the harvest made it effectively homeless. Among the customs attached to the last sheaf of the harvest were hollow shapes fashioned from the last sheaf of wheat or other cereal crops. The corn spirit would then spend the winter in this home until the “corn dolly” was ploughed into the first furrow of the new season.
During the day you will be shown traditional methods of making a Corndolly and create your own handmade decorations. Michael recently appeared on Channel 4 in Kirsty Alsop’s Christmas Decorating competition with his corn dolly creations.
Tutor information
MIKE SPRIGG: I started making corn dolly’s at the age of 8, when I was taught by my granddad. I had almost forgotten all about it until a few years ago, but I have steadily built up a decent portfolio of different shapes, sizes and designs mostly from my imagination. I have shown at Yesterdays Farming which has been held on the Dillington house grounds for the past two years, last year I won the best original craft in show. I am looking forward to passing my knowledge on.
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