Picture mounds of couch chest high, thousands and thousands of ears. It’s been a good harvest, but if you don’t get the silk removed and the corn chucked quickly, it will rot.
Corn shucking bees, though sometimes called by other names, were not exclusive to Americans. In fact, the practice started with Native American tribes. Later, their ways were adopted by European settlers as a way to turn tedious but necessary labor into a social event.
In exchange for many hands making light work, there was a community event with stories, songs, and after the job was complete, a large feast.
And…if you were husking corn, and happened to find a red ear, a kiss.
Why a kiss? Originally, the Iroquois tradition that said the discovery of a red ear meant that one had a brave admirer. Settlers changed that tradition to say one finding a red ear (even if some enterprising individuals “found” one) means a kiss was owed.
The “bee” wasn’t named after the insect that flies and makes honey. It evolved from the Middle English word bene, which meant a prayer or favor for someone, and the archaic term biden, which meant an invitation.
But what might you expect at one of these bees?
In the late fall or early winter, the corn shucking bee would usually be inside of a large, cleared barn or a large open area outside. Piles of unhusked corn, often mixed with colorful multi-hued Indian corn (which was where that red ear might come from!) were dumped on the ground. The workers would sit around the piles of corn and used tools like wooden husking pegs to tear off the leaves quickly.
The workers would tell stories, sing, and even have little competitions between themselves to see who could do the most husking, and also make the chore less difficult. After all, there were thousands and thousands of ears of corn needing to be husked. While individual competitions were common, so were team competitions.
During a team competition, the host farmer would divide his pile of corn exactly in half, using a log or a long rail. Those who came to help were split into two teams. They’d race to see who could get their half completed first. For a prize, it was usually that team got to fill their plates at dinner first or kept bragging rights.
Once the work was finished, the event turned into a social celebration called a “frolic,” which was the communal dinner, music, and dancing. Sometimes these events would get quite rowdy. Depending on the group, one could expect the dancing and music to last well until morning, between fights or young couples slipping away together for romantic moments.
Still, these events served a dual purpose at the time. They helped the labor to get done and provided entertainment. As fun as this tradition sounds, you might wonder if it still exists. It does! In many Amish communities, there are still corn husking parties, and there is still the search for the red ear of corn to claim a kiss.
Let’s talk fall traditions, and you also might have a chance to win an ebook.
The plan? Pretend he’s her betrothed and try not to fall in love.
Sheriff Asher Steele doesn’t plan to settle down. Not ever. In fact, he avoids the ladies all together. And he doesn’t plan to explain why that is. No one’s been able to break through the walls of his emotions and that’s just the way he likes it.
But when Isabelle Bowman comes to town with a secret of her own, and a heap of trouble following her, he might be the only one who can help her. What he’s not counting on is falling in love along the way and considering opening the walls of his heart to protect her.
Running from her half-brother, who desires nothing more than to kill Isabelle Bowman and take her inheritance, she’s desperate for a place to hide. Uninterested in marriage, she thinks the sheriff’s idea is preposterous. But she’s left with no option. With no funds, a sheriff who thinks she’s a troublemaker or a liar, and his plan that will never work, she’s sure things are not going to end well.
But could they both be wrong about what the future holds?
Do you also have a fall tradition that you do or grew up doing? Comment below, and you might win a prize. I’m giving away one copy of Asher’s Secret in ebook or audiobook!
We just usually visit the pumpkin patch.
I was driving through Lancaster County, PA, a lot in September for a quilting class, and I witnessed the Amish harvesting their corn on many farms. It’s amazing to see them do it by hand, but in fast-paced way, compared to huge farming equipment on non-Amish farms.
I imagine that would be! They likely have developed some fast ways to do it.
When my kids were little we would take them to Crossroads Village and ride the train and trick or treat through the village. Crossroads Village and Huckleberry railroad is in Flint, Michigan is a 19th-century living history village featuring 34 historic turn-of-the-century structures and an authentic narrow-gauge steam railroad.
Oh that sounds so neat! I bet that you all had so much fun!
No fall traditions.
Some people don’t! I admit, we don’t have too many here.
I pick Sweet Tango apples and make apple crisp to put in the freezer for a winter treat. Plus, I enjoy growing pumpkins to decorate with or to give away. Fall is my favorite time of year.
Now, that’s a clever idea! Dessert when you want it, but without the stress of making it if you are short on time!
not really traditons per say. but there are certain things that are done during the fall. we clean the yard getting it ready for next year. we can what veggies we have grown. We get the house clean from top to bottom for the winter, etc.
thank you for your post and the give a way.
Those are all really important things to do, for sure!
Fall means combine rides, either it is corn or beans being harvested! Also getting persimmons picked up and processed is a fun time and having persimmon pudding more so!
Ohh I’ve never had that! I bet it’s tasty!
I don’t think I would want to spend a whole day shucking corn myself.
No Fall but I do set out on my porch on Halloween and give out candy to the children and really enjoy it.
I wouldn’t want to either, but I guess there just was no other choice back then!
We don’t have any special traditions for autumn. But I do put the leaves that fall on my flower beds and leave then until spring.
That’s a really good idea! We don’t have many leaves or I’d do the same. I’ve heard it’s a good idea to do.
Trick or Treat was my favorite fall tradition, and introduced me to a lifelong love–CATS! One of the houses I visited was offering kittens along with candy. Mother was NOT pleased when I showed up with a purring bundle of fur who proceeded to take over the household. But I couldn’t remember from which house the feline had originated… (Yeah, she was usually “Mom,” but when presented with a kitten…)
Oh my gosh!!!! That’s the best treat EVER!!!!
Autumn is my favorite season! I decorate my house inside and out with the beautiful colors of fall. When the kids were young, we went to an apple orchard every year.
Ohh I bet you have some wonderful memories picking apples!
How intriguing! I never knew about this. Reminds of quilting bees. I have moved so much that I cannot say any local traditions. we moved here in August.
You are still settling in, then!
No fall traditions.
We don’t really have many either.
No, not really.
Same here, really! I’m boring, lol!
When I was growing up, my parents always had a garden, and we had our own mini corn shuckings in our back yard. I would always squeal when I would find a fat worm inside the corn husks. My dad would come grab it and throw it in a coffee can to take to our chickens. The cornstalks and husks went to our cattle. My mom would save a few ears to cook for us that night. She washed the rest of them, shaved the kernels off, bagged them up and froze them to thaw out and use until next season. We also had to shell peas and snap green beans, but shucking corn was the most fun garden chore.
Oh I’d have squealed too! That sounds like a lot of work, but a good memory!
When I was growing up we would have a bonfire and a hayride to celebrate fall.
I bet you enjoyed both so much!
Hi, I had never heard of the Corn Shucking bees, it is so very interesting and it sounds like alot of fun! Only tradition I have is to buy fall colored mums, I love them. We also have 2 pecan trees and this time of year my husband picks them, shells them and puts them in the freezer for during the year for when we need them for baking . (not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy, but Thank you. ) Your book sounds like a Great read and I love the cover.
Oh, I just love the pretty fall mums! It doesn’t matter the color, they are all so pretty!
Well, there was trick or treat with homemade costumes growing up. Then there was trick or treat with my boys and any nieces or nephews around that went with us. Mom always went too.
Now, I’m in a neighborhood (trailer park) where kids do not trick or treat so I just decorate some in the house . Well, except for this year. We have 2, 5 month old kitten terrors running and getting into and onto everything!
Oh, that’s too bad you don’t have trick or treaters. It varies anywhere from 100-200 for us (and we are a single street neighborhood, with like 10 kids in it). I thought that was a lot until I ran into a woman who said they bus kids in, and her house had 900 last year!
Our fall tradition is deer hunting. We will have four generations hunting this fall.
Wow! Four generations! That’s so special!
As far as I can remember we never had any kind of fall traditions, other than Thanksgiving. Sounds like lots of fun though.
Good Thursday Evening Sarah,
We would go to the pumpkin patch and choose a big one to carve and smaller ones to decorate with!
Thank you,
Julie Bullock