Who is John Barleycorn? Now that I have your thinking cap on I will tell you.

This person came from the old folk song that tells the story of Mabon. Or Harvest Home which ever suits you in thinking about it.

John Barleycorn was known as the Spirit of the fields.

Those of the past thought that the life of the sun was trapped inside the corn that was grown. The corn spirit was said to live mainly in the sheaf that was harvested. This spirit was to have worn the best and well designed clothes of a very rich person. Or as others thought that it was a near wicker like shaped man.

This sheaf was then cut apart and taken to be burned. Which was usually done by the villagers to sing and dance thinking it would bring prosperity to the harvesting town.

Here is the poem that was created at the time that might just help you understand all about John Barleycorn

They let him stand till midsummer’s day,
Till he looked both pale and wan,
And little Sir John’s grown a long, long beard
And so become a man...

They’ve hired men with scythes so sharp,
To cut him off at the knee,
They’ve rolled him and tied him by the waist
Serving him most barbarously...

And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl,
And he’s brandy in the glass,
And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
Proved the strongest man at last.