I’ve had a great staycation this month - not only a holiday in this country, in my own county, but also less than 20 miles from home! A camping holiday in an area at the heart of the Lancashire cotton industry might not sound exciting but just a few miles outside Colne in the East of the county is some surprisingly lush countryside.
We decided to go to the Countryside Day at Wycoller Country Park, a great opportunity not only to see traditional craftspeople at work, such as a glass etcher and a master thatcher, but also to have a go – all for free. My daughters both made corn dollies, while learning that in pagan times, the last bunch of corn was kept and plaited until the following year's crop was sewn when the spirit, which they believed lived in the field and guarded the crop, would be returned to the field by being shaken from last year’s corn bunch. My eldest also wove willow into an elaborate-looking fish shape, held a bird of prey and was held in the grip of an alarmingly large but docile python, perhaps kept soothed by the harpist’s playing.
The next day we went for a walk along a stretch of the 124 mile Leeds Liverpool Canal. The children took simple delight in trying to race the Foulridge Canal Cruiser, then our way back took us through a cornfield, so as you can guess, my four year old delighted in looking for the pagan spirit!
/ Barbara
I want to make a corn dolly too!
Posted by: Sarah | 27 August 2009 at 08:12 AM
sounds like a winning weekend...no need to worry about the weather when you can evoke a pagan spirit to chase away the rain. Something the kids will probably never forget.
Posted by: Itzybitsy | 26 August 2009 at 11:36 PM
How brave is your daughter!
Posted by: Amy | 26 August 2009 at 01:04 PM