A Love Token

Originally an important offering during pagan harvest festivals to ensure a good harvest corn dollies have been made for centuries. History of corn dollies

Pursuing my passion for heritage crafts I came upon Elizabeth, who has been making corn dollies since she was a child in England. and fell in love with them and the folklore behind the different designs. Especially the two I’ve chose for the Stillroom.

Elizabeth calls the little one above a Countryman’s Favour. These were thought to be made by young farm boys as they walked in the fields with their loved ones. They would be trimmed with flowers and seed heads found in the hedgerows and given as a token of their love.

The larger corn dollie (below) is a Welsh Border Fan. It’s a typical design that has it’s origin in Wales. Like all other corn dollies or straw crafts it holds a special meaning: In pagan times it was believed that the spirit of the corn lived amongst the crop, and it would be homeless when all the crop was harvested.