Crying The Neck - A Harvest Celebration

Madron Ceremony 2006.  (c) George Pritchard

Each year a number of Old Cornwall Societies hold Crying the Neck Ceremonies. Below are the details of events taking place this year and their venues. Others may be added nearer the date so please check back for details of an event near you. If you would like to purchase a booklet on the history and details of the celebration itself then scroll down the page for details.

Luxulyan Old Cornwall Society

Cryin’ the Neck Ceremony 

2011

To be Arranged

For any further information please contact our secretary.

E.mail Luxulyan O.C.S.

Redruth Old Cornwall Society

CRYING OF THE NECK

2011

After the ceremony a service will be held

followed by a pasty supper.

To be Arranged

E.mail Redruth O.C.S.

***************************

St Ives Old Cornwall Society

Crying of the Neck ceremony 

2011

Afterwards there will be a service and refreshments at the Village Hall.

To be Arranged

E.mail St Ives O.C.S

Picture credit © Phil Ellery St Columb OCS

St Columb Old Cornwall Society

 'Crying Of the neck' 

The ceremony will start at 7pm and will be followed by a short Harvest Service

St Columb OCS will be holding their 'Crying the Neck' on Tuesday 6th September. Location this year is Trenance, near St Issey. 

Followed by service at St Issey church and pasty supper at St Issey village hall. Starts 7pm in the field. 

Follow signposts from the A39 (Crealy turning). Charge will be £5 with pasty or £3 without.

Entertainment in the hall will be Mark Hawkin and his band. We require numbers of those wishing to attend so that we can order the correct number of pasties. Our contact is Mrs Val Bennallick 01637 869963

Regards
Phil Ellery 

Click for Map

E.mail St Columb O.C.S.

Madron Old Cornwall Society

'Crying of the neck'

2011

To be Arranged

e-mail Madron O.C.S.

After the field ceremony we go to Madron Church for a short service

and the sheaf is left there for one year.

We then have a pasty supper at the Landithy Hall

Crying The Neck, Madron, 2006

On the 1st of September 2006 at  6.30pm the Madron & Penzance Old Cornwall Societies held a "Crying the Neck" ceremony at Boswarthen Farm, Madron. The banners of both Madron (Doreen King) and Penzance (Burt Prigg) Societies were paraded. 

The M.C. was Don Liddicoat, Vice Chairman of Madron Old Cornwall Society and the hymns were accompanied by Penzance Silver Band. 

The first hymn was "Praise the Lord! Ye heavens adore him".

This was followed by a prayer which Pat Snow read in Cornish with the English translation being read by Pastor Russell Buley of Trenere Chapel, Madron. 

Don Liddicoat then gave an explanation of the ceremony.

'The standing corn was then cut by Mr. Tony Jenkin. After the last cut was made Mr. Jenkin then gathered and bound the corn into shocks and then arranged them into stooks. 

The last of the shocks is called 'the neck' and this was raised on high by Tony Jenkin who cried:

"I hav'n; I hav'n; I hav'n."

Everyone then cried together:

"What  hav'ee; what hav'ee; what hav'ee?

Tony then replied:

"A neck; a neck, a neck." and the crowd gave three hearty cheers.

The ceremony was then repeated in Cornish.

Tony: "Ma genef; ma genef; ma genef. "

All present: "Pandr' us genes;  pandr' us genes; pandr' us genes? 

Tony: " Pedn yar; pend yar; pedn yar. "

All present gave three hearty cheers.

The final hymn was then sung "We plough the fields and scatter" followed by the closing prayer.

The ceremony was followed by a service in Madron Chapel with Pastor Russell Buley conducting the service and giving the lesson. 

This was in turn followed by a traditional pasty supper.

The ceremony was led by  (L.to R.) Pat Snow (Cornish Prayer), Tony Jenkin (Reaper), Don Liddicoat (M.C.) and Mr Russell Buley (English Prayer) . Photo: George Pritchard

0-0-0-0

A revised booklet on the 'Crying The Neck' ceremony with a colour cover and the words of the celebration of harvesting the final sheath of corn for the season in both English and Cornish can be obtained from the online shop:

Price £1. Please add £1-00. post & packing to each book in the U.K. Elsewhere price on request.

Photos by Sandra and George Pritchard

Click on one to see enlarged version.