Collectanea. 379
Harvest Rites in Irkland.
The following interesting account of harvest rites in Ireland, sent by Mr. H. M'Neile M'Cormick, of Cultra House, Co. Down, has been forwarded by Sir J. Frazer, who writes : " There are a number of archaic features in this account : — the Celtic name for the last corn {calacht, answering to the Gaelic caiiieac/i, ' old wife ' ) ; the custom of cutting it by throwing the hooks ; the placing of it round the neck of the farmer's wife ; and the name of the harvest supper. Mr. M'Cormick states that Toome, where the custom was observed in 19 13, is a district of the County of Antrim on the border of the County of Derry. It is about forty miles from Belfast, and is one of the two districts of Antrim in which the basis of the population is Celtic."
"An old harvest ceremony, "Cutting the Calacht," formerly largely practised in Ireland, but now almost extinct, was observed at Toome, County Antrim, about ten days ago. It consists in leaving the last bunch of corn in the corner of the last field uncut. This is plaited and called the "calacht." The reapers provide themselves with hooks, and standing back a reasonable distance take turns to " shy " at it. The successful candidate then places it round the neck of the master's wife (in this case there was no master's wife, so it was placed round the master's neck) and triumphantly leads her into the house, claiming the first drink. After this it is hung up in the centre of the kitchen, where 3. sutificient quantity of liquid refreshment is provided for all, followed by a tea and general jollification. This is usually known as a " churn."' " Calacht," in Irish, signifies an old woman, witch, or hag, who was considered responsible for all the misfortunes from which the peasantry suffered. She was represented by the upstanding plant of corn, and in former times it was customary for the successful reaper to bear it in triumph to the farmer's wife, telling her that he has cut down the old witch who caused her the ill-luck from which she suffered, and that henceforth there is nothing but good luck in store for her and her household. While much of the reason of the ceremony may be now forgotten, it is interesting to note that the important item, i.e., the liquid refresh- ment, still survives, " churns," as a wind-up to the harvest, being
