Superstitions of the Corn

In Pagan times the spirit of the Corn God or Lugh was thought to be housed in the last sheaf of wheat left standing in the field and when cut the God's life would be sacrificed, spilling his symbollic blood upon the earth to ensure fertility in the year to come.
Understandably therefore plenty of superstition built up around the cutting of this final sheaf and the reaper responsible for throwing his sickle at it was seen as taking the life of the deity. To avoid this somewhat inauspicious task, the Irish Celts came up with a solution which involved everyone standing around the sheaf blindfolded in a semi circle and hurling their sickles at the wheat. In this way no one would know who was ultimately responsible for the Corn God's demise.
Once cut however, the last sheaf took on a more positive aspect and was taken home by one of the reapers where it was 'dressed' either with a simple red ribbon to represent the blood of the God, or fashioned far more elaborately into a person or shape which became known by a myriad of names according to the region. The name that stuck however was 'kern baby', from which derives the more popular name of 'corn dolly' and has since become a modern day symbol of fertility.
Enjoy this Lammas season and may the year ahead be a fertile and happy one!

St james Day and the Horn Fair

The 25th July marks the feast day of St James (brother of Jesus) and is also the Sussex Horn Fair, so called because one of the revellers wore a set of horns upon their head. The horns were thought to represent the Pagan Horned God often referred to as Cernunnos or Herne the hunter and were believed to bring luck and fertility to the wearer.

In Kent at the Charlton Horse Fair, (records of which date back to the 16th century) tell us that everyone who attended wore horns and ate rams horns made from sugar and gingerbread,

A similar festival takes place in Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire during September where a group of dancers all wear a set of antlers and dance their way around the whole village stopping at every inn on the way. This is a ritual that dates back at least 1000 years and is said to bring luck to everyone in the village who sees the dancers.

Regardless of whether you have access to a set of horns, this is a great excuse for a summer get together to celebrate the gift of male energy before it begins to diminish at the festival of Lammas early in August.

The Festival of Beltane

Sunset on the 30th April heralds the Celtic festival of Beltane, the beginning of summer. It is a joyous festival and celebrates the gift of life in all its forms, from the gathering of greenery to decorate and protect homes, to making love in the woods until dawn. Many Pagans enact the marriage of the God and Goddess in their Beltane rituals which symbolises the masculine sun and the female earth, the union of which will hopefully result in an abundant earth as we move into the warmth and beauty of summer.

Celebrate this coming weekend by attending one of the many May Day festivals that are held around the country, perhaps the Green Man Festival in Clun Shropshire or the classic and evocative 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow Cornwall.

Whatever you decide to do for May Day however, make sure you celebrate the joy of life.