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| Issue 54: News |
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Page 22 of 24 Crying the neck Madron Old Cornwall Society celebrated the ancient custom of Crying the Neck at Boswarthen. The origins of the custom are obscure. However, it is said that in days gone by the whole of the reaping of the corn had to be done with a hook or scythe. The harvest often lasted for many weeks. When the last handful of standing corn was cut, the reaper would lift up the bunch high above his head and call out: “I ‘ave’n, I ‘ave’n, I ‘ave’n.” The reply by the rest of the workers was: “What have ’ee?” The reaper would then shout: “A neck” to which the rest would cheer and then go on to celebrate the end of the harvest.  Roy Matthews crying the neck at Madron. The ancient Cornish festival is centuries old. Picture by Ralph Thomas. Tim Hawkins, vicar of Madron, opened the proceedings with the hymn Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens Adore Him accompanied by Penzance Silver Band. Roy Matthews took the neck of corn, which he had scythed and facing the four corners of the parish shouted “I have’n” three times. This met the retort from those assembled “What have’ee?” The reply “A neck” was met with “Hurrah” which was repeated in Cornish. We Plough The Fields and Scatter was sung while the sheaf was taken to Madron Church. After a short service, there followed a pasty supper in the Landithy Hall. |
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