The grueling work of the main harvest was back-breaking manual labor when your only cutting tool was a scythe or a sickle, and men, women, and children were all involved in gathering the crops each day from dawn ‘til dusk with only a short break for lunch. Timing was crucial, because, if the harvest wasn’t completed on time, the crops were vulnerable to ruin from the cold and rain of the changing seasons, leaving the village facing possible starvation.

On the last day of reaping, the final push often involved elements of competition, when teams of workers would race each other to complete a ridge, while the last stand of corn might be cut when reapers threw their sickles at it until it fell. The last sheaf of corn was often decorated or made into a harvest doll representing the spirit of the field, the forerunner to our corn dollies. I was then taken to the barn to a herald of music and merriment, drenched in water as a rain charm, and kept for replanting the following year.

In the evening, the end of the harvest was joyfully marked with the ‘Harvest Home’ celebration in which the lord would throw a party for his workers with feasting and ale. Sometimes the village would be decorated with boughs and there would be much singing, shouting, and revelry. In some places, the villains or peasants bound to the lord would be summoned to come to the lord’s court and ‘sing the harvest home’ at the feast.

Amid much drinking, reveling, and dancing, huge fires were lit. This often entailed the gathering of collected bones and rubbish to make a ‘bone fire’, or bonfire. The pungent aroma from the flames was thought to ward off the evil spirits and scare away the dragons. (We will just skip the bones)

Please come help us remember and celebrate the end of the Medieval Harvest season with some friendly competitions, tournaments, fellowship, food, and fun.