Corn Dollies
The intricately woven straw decorations that brighten churches throughout Britain at the time of Harvest Festival have their origins not in the Christian religion but in beliefs and ideas stretching back into pre-history.
(Handbook of Country Crafts)
Corn Dolly making is an ancient rural craft. A corn dolly is not just an attractive decoration; it is also a traditional fertility symbol. In the past, men working in the harvest fields would plait and weave corn dollies as a means of giving thanks to the goddesses of the earth and of fertility. After the harvest was over, the dollies would be taken home and kept warm and dry in order to safeguard the harvest for the following year.
(Corn Dollies - Search Press)