In Merksplas (Antwerp Province), the society ‘Friends of the Nativity Scene’ have once again begun harvesting wheat using traditional methods as is their annual custom. The volunteers do this every year in summer to ensure they have enough straw for local nativity scenes at Christmas. “We are some of the very few in Flanders who still do it the old-fashioned way, with a reaper, a tractor and a horse,” volunteers explain say.
Summer is in full swing, but in Merksplas people are already thinking about Christmas and the nativity scene. As is the annual custom, volunteers from the Friends of the Nativity Scene society are harvesting wheat to provide straw for the nativity scenes in Merksplas and Zondereigen near Baarle-Hertog (Antwerp Province). “We used to do that for the cities of Turnhout and Brussels as well, but they haven’t had a traditional nativity scene for a few years now. It’s a shame,” says Herman Verstraelen, chair of the Friends of the Nativity Scene.
The Friends of the Nativity Scene still do their harvesting in the traditional way. “We’ve been doing this for at least 25 years and we’re some of the very few who still do it the old-fashioned way, with a hay-picking machine, a tractor and a horse,” Herman continues.
Harvesting the wheat is just one part of the job. The harvested straw needs to be bundled into sheaves and then placed in barns. It then has to dry for a few weeks in a barn. The volunteers also help with bundling the straw. “I’ve got 25 people to tie the sheaves and put them in the barn. On Friday we’ll take the sheaves to the barn,” says Herman.
Creating the sheaves of straw is also done in the traditional way. “We do that with a horse and a Lanz Bulldog, an historic tractor,” explains volunteer Jan Vermeiren.
The final step involves the threshing of the wheat. This literally separates the chaff from the grain. At the Friends of the Nativity Scene, Frans Adriaensen is responsible for this task. He does this with a Belgian or Brabant draught horse and a 70 to 80-year-old threshing machine. “That’s how they did it 60 or 70 years ago. Back when we were still children. Now, with modern farming, it’s all different,” says Frans.
After threshing, the straw is stored for the nativity scenes later this year. “The wheat itself is sent to the miller here in Merksplas,” says chairman Herman.
Very good quality straw
Extremely hot and dry weather, such as during the heatwave at the end of last month, can pose a serious threat to wheat. “If the straw is thick enough, it’s waterproof,” explains Herman. But in the past, the volunteers have experienced too little straw on a few occasions. “If we don’t have enough straw, we lay roof tiles. But they aren’t always 100 per cent waterproof,” says Herman.
This year, however, the wheat is less affected by the heat. “We’ve got some very good straw,” confirms Herman. “Apart from that bit where the pigeons have been,” Herman concludes with a laugh.