John Barleycorn

John Barleycorn is the Sacrificial God which can be found within each of the three harvest festivals; Summer Solstice, Lammas (August 1st), and Mabon. John represents the spirit of the field, the grain that gives the people sustenance. With John’s death at Harvest, the people will be nourished through the dark winter months and into Spring when new growth will begin.

Here is one of the “John Barleycorn�?songs.

The Ballad Of John Barleycorn

There was three men come out of the West
Their fortunes for to try
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn must die.
They ploughed, they sowed, they harrowed him in
Throwing clods all on his head
And these three men made a solemn vow
John Barleycorn was Dead.

They've left him in the ground for a very long time
Till the rains from heaven did fall
Then little Sir John's sprung up his head
And so amazed them all
They've left him in the ground till the Midsummer
Till he's grown both pale and wan
Then little Sir John's grown a long, long beard
And so become a man.

They hire'd men with their scythes so sharp
To cut him off at the knee.
They've bound him and tied him around the waist
Serving him most barb'rously.
They hire'd men with their sharp pitch-forks
To prick him to the heart
But the drover he served him worse than that
For he's bound him to the cart.

They've rolled him around and around the field
Till they came unto a barn
And there they made a solemn mow
Of Little Sir John Barleycorn
They've hire'd men with their crab-tree sticks
To strip him skin from bone
But the miller, he served him worse than that,
For he's ground him between two stones.

Here's Little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
And brandy in the glass
But Little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl's
Proved the stronger man at last
For the hunts man he can't hunt the fox
Nor so loudly blow his horn
And the tinker, he can't mend Kettles or pots
Without a little of Sir John Barleycorn. (Traditional)

As you probably determined, John Barleycorn is the grain itself; barley, rye, wheat, corn, etc., that is harvested each summer. Without his death, the people would probably die when cold winter knocked on their doors. Some versions of the John Barleycorn song look more to his abilities to make ale and the effects there of, than of his nutritive aspects. ;)

In the John Barleycorn, or similar rites, the last sheaf or shock of grain harvested is used to represent John. A man-like effigy was often made, to be carried from the fields and burned, releasing the spirit of the field, that he may be reborn with next year’s grain. Bride’s figures (Imbolc, February 2nd) and corn dollies are also made from the last (or first) shock, but that is for a different rite and another day.

As with Lleu, a wickerman may also be used with the Barleycorn rites. The effigy is much the same; man-like, dressed in clothes, with items of the harvest tied to it. The barleycorn wickerman is also burned, releasing the spirit and the offerings to the gods.

A medieval traditional play of “Rise Up, Jock�?also presents the myth of the sacrificial king. A young man plays the king who undergoes a mock sacrificial death. A mysterious ‘doctor�?who reaches into his bag and revives the young king. This play was performed at village fairs, usually at harvest time.

~from the 'Hecate's Wych' website