AN OLD CORNISH CUSTOM.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 16

AN OLD CORNISH CUSTOM.

Last Saturday there was published on tho page devoted to "News, Views, and Notes" an article headed "Cutting Neck," which dealt with aa old Cornish custom, in termination of the

harvest season. A correspondent of "The Evening Post," writing under

the norn de plume of "Pencarrow," from Motueka, says in regard to the article under discussion: —

"As times change and old customs become distorted or lose their particular meaning I think it may lie interesting to many Cornishmon and others if I may give my version of the custom, m which I have taken part on several occasions. First, if is known as 'Galling the Neck,' and not 'Cutting the Neck; in fact, I nave never hoard of the farmer cutting the last sheaf, the neck is the last sheaf to be loaded on the last cart load, tho women folk go out ia the afternoon with refreshment for the harvesters, afterwards amusmg themselves by making a 'neck' in. the form of a handsome small sheaf bound areund with coloured ribbons, decorated with flowers, and having three or lour feet to enable it to stand upright. This is the last sheaf loaded, and the men and women bring it home on the last cart, singing old Cornish folk songs as they go. About dunk the farmer carries the 'neck' out into the open, everything being ready for 'Harvest Homo to 'Call the Neck,' thereby inviting all and sundry to come in. His call is heard for a very long distance over the quiet, undulating country, while the news is carried still further by stentorian replies to hia/calling. The method of 'Calling the Neck* is as follows, the first syllable being long drawn-out, and the second syllable short:—Farmer: iA. h havun* ('I have it'). Beplies- 'Wh at havee?' ('What have yout'). Fanner: 'Ai c neck' ('A neck'). Eepliaa: <Hoo-ray!' Each of these ealla and replica are repeated three times, and the calling continued in the same manner several times until the surrounding farmers have closed in towards the caller, when there will be a goodly gathering of neighbours to join in with the last of the replies. Then there will be plenty of friendly greeting, banter, and chaff, everyone very'jolly, until a move i» made to the supper tables, where a real Cornish feast has been prepared— meats, hams, tongues, geese, ducks,, poultry, etc., followed by delicious cheeses, apple and blackberry pies (a specialty), tart*, etc., not forgetting the 'splits,' which are eaten with heather honey, Cornish cream, and jam ('Thunder and Lightning'), and are something to remember and wish for again. 'The Neck' is. set up at tha feast, after •which there will loe singing ana dancing until late at night or into the small hours.of the morning._ 'The Neck' is I subsequently hung up in the barn until Christmas, when it is steeped in beer and fad to the best beast in the stable, remembering that cattle are housed in England at night-time in the winter."