The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)Frazer, James George
Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)
Frazer, James George
Magic; Mythology; Religion; Superstition
Similar customs are observed by Slavonic peoples. Thus in Poland the last
sheaf is commonly called the Baba, that is, the Old Woman. “In the last
sheaf,” it is said, “sits the Baba.” The sheaf itself is also called the
Baba, and is sometimes composed of twelve smaller sheaves lashed
together.(1135) In some parts of Bohemia the Baba, made out of the last
sheaf, has the figure of a woman with a great straw hat. It is carried
home on the last harvest-waggon and delivered, along with a garland, to
the farmer by two girls. In binding the sheaves the women strive not to be
last, for she who binds the last sheaf will have a child next year.(1136)
The last sheaf is tied up with others into a large bundle, and a green
branch is stuck on the top of it.(1137) Sometimes the harvesters call out
to the woman who binds the last sheaf, “She has the Baba,” or “She is the
Baba.” She has then to make a puppet, sometimes in female, sometimes in
male form, out of the corn; the puppet is occasionally dressed with
clothes, often with flowers and ribbons only. The cutter of the last
stalks, as well as the binder of the last sheaf, was also called Baba; and
a doll, called the Harvest-woman, was made out of the last sheaf and
adorned with ribbons. The oldest reaper had to dance, first with this
doll, and then with the farmer’s wife.(1138) In the district of Cracow,
when a man binds the last sheaf, they say, “The Grandfather is sitting in
it;” when a woman binds it, they say, “The Baba is sitting in it,” and the
woman herself is wrapt up in the sheaf, so that only her head projects out
of it. Thus encased in the sheaf, she is carried on the last
harvest-waggon to the house, where she is drenched with water by the whole
family. She remains in the sheaf till the dance is over, and for a year
she retains the name of Baba.(1139)
In Lithuania the name for the last sheaf is Boba (Old Woman), answering to
the Polish name Baba. The Boba is said to sit in the corn which is left
standing last.(1140) The person who binds the last sheaf or digs the last
potato is the subject of much banter, and receives and long retains the
name of the Old Rye-woman or the Old Potato-woman.(1141) The last
sheaf—the Boba—is made into the form of a woman, carried solemnly through
the village on the last harvest-waggon, and drenched with water at the
farmer’s house; then every one dances with it.(1142)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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