Dreschen

Threshing, agricultural process to separate grain from the ears or pulse from the pods. The time-consuming and strenuous threshing by hand with a flail - accompanied by various customs and traditions such as special verses (to ensure a uniform work rhythm), meals and dances (when the threshing was finished, Maschkerer) - was gradually replaced in Austria by hand-operated, horse-operated and engine-powered threshing machines from the end of the 19^th century on. Largely replaced by the combine harvester since the 1950s.

Literature: R. Wolfram, Dreschen - Austreten durch Tiere, in: Österr. Volkskundeatlas, 6^th instalment, 1979; O. Bockhorn, Dreschen - Formen des Dreschflegels, idem; H. Fielhauer, Maskenbräuche nach dem Drusch, in: H. Fielhauer, Volkskunde als demokratische Kulturgeschichtsschreibung, 1987; W. Reichert, Geschichte der Bauernarbeit, without date.