Local Survivals of Ancient Harvest Customs. 33 



the reaper's hand is crossed with silver. Near Keady, in days 

 gone by, the successful person led the "churn" or harvest 

 dance. 



The "churn" is kept for the whole year or even longer 

 where the custom still lingers strongly. This specimen is one 

 of three got at one farm, but more usually the custom has 

 decayed and the churn is kept only for a short time. In one 

 place the " churn " is said to guard one's store, but as a rule the 

 country folk give no reason for the custom except sometimes a 

 vague idea that it is lucky. 



The three names which I have given are not all used 

 together. The name " churn " is by far the commonest, the 

 name " hare" I have found only in the glens, the name "collya " 

 only in Armagh. It is worth noticing that the name u churn " 

 is applied to the harvest-home even in places where the queue 

 of oats has a different name. 



I have found the custom both in the extreme north and 

 south of Antrim, in Down about Newtownards and perhaps 

 near Newcastle, and in north Armagh. In fact I have found it 

 everywhere where I have been able to search for it. I have 

 also heard vague accounts of such a custom in Tyrone but the 

 accounts are not accurate enough to mention. 



The "churn" should be compared with customs like the 

 English " Kernababy," and the Scotch kern-maiden, and a host 

 of other examples given in Mr. J. G. Frazer's " Golden Bough." 

 The same authority, vol. ii, p. 269 (second edition), mentions 

 exactly the same custom in Ayrshire and Galloway where the 

 plait is called the Hare. 



