John Barleycorn Must Die (Whitby, September 2024)

John Barleycorn is the personification of the barley crop and the beer brewed from it, who has been part of the song culture of the British Isles for centuries and whose name has become synonymous with alcohol. His ritual sacrifice at harvest time follows the stages in the growth and development of the crop and his story has been adapted by the organisers of the Whitby Krampus Run ( / whitbykrampusrun ) to create a magical performance involving the dissection and evisceration of the eponymous figure so that all can enjoy the bounty of the brew.
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