After a lapse of 15 years Threshing Day was presented on Saturday 21 November 2015 by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), in partnership with the Cape Winelands District Municipality and the Worcester Museum. Approximately 250 people attended the day’s events and everyone present thoroughly enjoyed the day and all its activities.
Two schools, the Worcester Veteran Tractor and Engine Club and visitors from the whole community attended and contributed to the success of the day. Wheat was threshed with a Macormick Deering threshing machine and wheat sheaves were threshed on the threshing floor by donkeys. Visitors could also observe the stamping of wheat with a stamper, the milling of wheat with a hand mill and how to make pillows from everlasting flowers. After they were shown how to stuff mattresses with straw, they were given the opportunity to make their own straw dolls.
What added even more excitement and enthusiasm to the day, was the several kinds of traditional breads like ash bread, floor bread, steam bread, griddle cakes and vetkoek that were baked as demonstrations, while wheat beer and ginger beer were offered as refreshment. The train rides were also very popular.
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) interns were greatly counted on to guide visitors and manned the various demonstration stations. The day was concluded with traditional entertainment in the form of riel dancers, traditional and gumboot dancers.
Let us support our local museums and continue to preserve our heritage and celebrate our history BETTER TOGETHER.
Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877
E-mail: tania.colyn@westerncape.gov.za