153 - Fork hoe

FARMING TOOL used in winnowing, namely separating the fruit from the cob on the threshing floor: after the farmers finished threshing, they lifted the ears with the fork hoe and threw them up high. The straw was swept away by the strong wind, while the fruit, which was heavier, fell down and remained on the threshing floor. The fork hoe was also used for uploading haystacks on a carriage because of its shape or for concentrating them in the center of the threshing floor. Winnowing was part of a series of certain rituals, which aimed at the proliferation of fruit in the following year. More specifically, after winnowing, locals used to bless the fruit with holy water.

Donor: Sotiris Kolovos