Guldize facts for kids
Guldize (also called Gooldize) is a special harvest festival from Cornwall, England. It's a time when the Cornish people celebrate the end of the wheat harvest. The name "Guldize" comes from the Cornish words Gool dheys, which mean "the feast of grain stacks."
This festival usually happens around the autumnal equinox, which is when autumn officially begins. It's a big celebration with lots of food and fun. A unique part of Guldize is the "Crying The Neck" ceremony. This involves making a special Corn dolly called "the neck." This corn dolly then becomes the guest of honor at the feast. Since 2008, people in Penzance and other parts of Cornwall have started celebrating Guldize again.
Contents
A Look Back at Guldize Celebrations
A. K. Hamilton Jenkin wrote about Guldize in his book Cornish Homes and Customs. He described how people celebrated this important harvest festival.
The Harvest Feast
After the last bit of corn was cut, the harvesters would go to the farmhouse kitchen. Many people would gather there, including the farmer's family and the workers. They would all sit down for a huge meal.
The main course was often broiled pork and potatoes. For dessert, they enjoyed apple pie, cream, and a type of cake called 'fuggans'. Everyone would drink cider and other spirits with their meal.
Music and Games
After the big feast, the fun continued with music and singing. People would sing songs like "Green Brooms" and "Harvest Home." Sometimes, the celebrations would last all night long!
There were also some fun traditions connected to the feast. One custom involved a man chosen to carry the corn "neck" to the feast. He had to sneak into the building without being caught by a special lady. If she caught him, she would splash him with water! But if he made it inside without being soaked, he got to kiss the lady guarding the door.
Early Records of Guldize
The first time Guldize was written about was in 1602. Richard Carew mentioned it in his book called Survey of Cornwall. This shows that Guldize has been a part of Cornish culture for a very long time.
