Corn Dollies

Corn Dollies are a traditional European craftwork (that seems to have echoes of idol-making) that is made of dried stocks of grain. Corn, in the old days and in Europe was the term used for all grains i.e. wheat, barley, and others. Today the term corn, in the Americas, refers to maize or Indian Corn that many use today.

Corn dollies are dried stalks of grain woven into different shapes depending on the regions they hail from. Continental German, Scandinavian, and English all have rich traditions in making Corn Dollies. 

It is said that in Arch-Heathen days into the 1800's Germany, the last sheaf of grain was said to be left standing for Sleipnir by Grimm but other sheaves of grain throughout Mother Europe would be twisted, braided, and fashioned into designs so the spirit of the grains or the wights of the crops could reside in the Corn Dolly until next year's planting in which the Corn Dolly would be sowed back into the land. All the dark months long, the Corn Dollies, holding the wights of the corn, were kept in places of honour in the people's homes or even barns.

August starts the beginning of the harvest season, and it is appropriate to fashion these Corn Dollies out of respect for our past and for the chance to show honour to the wights of the lands until springtide. 

The following are directions for a simple Corn Dolly you can make with the Folk and family during Freyfaxi or maybe Haustblót.

1) Get yourself a wheat sheaf from any craft supplier and then remove 3 suitable stalks that are about even in length and thickness to each other.

2) I have been taught that you should soak the stalks for a day and that should make them pliable but I have not found that to be true, so instead, starting up under the wheat head and working my way down to the end of the stalk, I simply squish the stalk between my fingers until the whole stalk is a bit pliable and not so stiff. Don't go overboard as you can ruin the stalks.

3) Place three stalks together and tie with thread the three stalks together right under the wheat head. Make sure they are even.

4) Braid the three stalks all the way to the end of the stalk as you would your daughter's hair and once at the end, you tie the stalk together so the braid does not come undone. Both ends should be tied with thread and you now have a single woven strand of three stalks. This is also how you would make a simple rope, by the way. Clever fingers would be able to make a better-looking braid which would give a better finished product but judging by my clumsy braid and the final product, even most of us could make a passing Corn Dolly.

5) Now we twist the woven strand into a shape and secure it with ribbon. I like red. The one you see here is a type of 'Countryman's favours' Corn Dolly. There are fantastic variations and types of Corn Dollies to choose from or to inspire your own.

6) Put it in a place of honour until spring, and then put it in the ground ritually.

Hail the Spirits of the Harvest!

Ron Boardman

Folkbuilder, New Hampshire rboardman@runestone.org

~ From The Runestone, August 2025 ~