Harvest Fever at Armagh County Museum
Published: 30 October 2009
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During the month of October Armagh County Museum was taken over by Harvest Fever. From the 1st-16th October a total of sixteen schools and community groups came along to find out about harvests of the past.
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On show were objects from the collections alongside crops and vegetables for identification. The workshop explored the myths that surrounded the gathering of the corn and Hallowe’en.
Participants heard tales of the Calliagh which was the last sheaf cut at the end of the Harvest and then displayed over the farmhouse door for good luck. They also learnt about The Churn which is the celebration at the end of the Harvest.
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The workshop incorporated photographs from the Allison and Green collections. These photographs showed traditional farming practices such as horse ploughing and the cutting of the corn with scythes and sickles. The hire fair was also discussed and pupils considered what it would have been like going to the Fair and the type of work they would have been expected to do.
The session ended with a hands-on activity in which everyone had a chance to make a traditional harvest knot. A great time was had by all involved!
Click images to enlarge.
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