3* 



^th February, 1902. 



Mr. J. Brown, President, in the Chair. 



NOTES ON LOCAL SURVIVALS OF ANCIENT 



HARVEST CUSTOMS. 



By John M'Kean. 



The Hare, Churn or Collya. 



This Harvest custom is widely spread over the North-East 

 corner of Ireland. When the corn is being cut the last handful is 

 plaited up as shown in this specimen. Then the harvesters all 

 gather round and proceed as follows : — 



They either stand about 9 feet off and throw their sickles in 

 turn at it until it is cut down, or each is blindfolded in turn, 

 advances towards it, and has one cut at it with a scythe till it 

 is mown down. Or again, each pulls up a root in turn till all 

 the roots are pulled up. 



Two other modes, obviously degenerate forms are to cut it 

 with the scythe or the machine without any ceremony. 



In those cases where the ceremony still survives, the 

 harvester who cuts the ears or the harvester who pulls the last 

 root is honoured in different ways. Generally he gets the first 

 drink at the harvest-home, which is everywhere called the 

 '' churn." Near Glenarm, he or she hangs the " hare," as it is 

 there called, over the doorway and has a right to kiss the first 

 person of the opposite sex who enters. In one part of Armagh 



