Folk-Lore of West and Mid-WalesDavies, Jonathan Ceredig
History
Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales
Davies, Jonathan Ceredig
Folklore -- Wales; Wales -- Social life and customs
It was the custom once to "dwrn fedi" (fist reaping) a very laborious
work, for our forefathers had no scythes nor machines in former times,
so that the sickle was everything. It was customary once for a number
of farmers in the same district to arrange together not to cut their
fields on the same day so that they might be able to assist each
other. A few men would come together on an appointed day from each
farm in the district that they might be able to cut and bind all the
corn of one farm in a single day; and it is still the custom in many
places to do this in connection with hay as well as shearing sheep
on the mountains.
The Gaseg Fedi (harvest mare) at the end of the harvest was a small
quantity of the last corn which was left standing in the field, and
tied up carefully; and great excitement existed, and much amusement
was created when the last standing was reached. There was a good
deal of fun in connection with cutting the mare. Each reaper in his
turn was allowed to throw his sickle at the corn until it was cut,
from a distance of about 15 or 20 yards. The most unskilful were
allowed to try first, at last some one would succeed in cutting it
down amidst cheers. After cutting it down, it was customary in some
places, especially in the North of Cardiganshire for one of the men
to take the mare to a neighbouring farm, where the harvest had not
been completed, and where the reapers would be still busy at work. The
man who took the mare in this manner was very careful to go, or crept
without being observed, and stealthily stationed himself over against
the foreman of his neighbour's reapers, he watched an opportunity,
when within easy distance of throwing it suddenly over the hedge into
his neighbour's field, and if possible upon the foreman's sickle and
at the same time repeating some insulting words and took to his heels
with all speed to escape the flying sickle of the reapers whom he had
insulted which were hurled after him, and sometimes he was in peril
of his life. In some districts in Carmarthenshire, it was sometimes
the practice to be as bold as to take the Gaseg even to the very house
of the neighbour, but this was considered more insulting if anything
than throwing it into his field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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