Scarecrow Contest

Happy Fall

History of the Scarecrow

Written by: Eliana Davey

Whether revolting creatures in horror films, or huggable and loveable from the Wizard of Oz, Scarecrows have been a symbol of the fall season for thousands of years. The first record of scarecrows was in ancient Egypt when farmers would hide along the Nile and shoo birds into traps. But throughout history, people began to get more creative. In Greece, farmers carved gods and dressed them in togas to help ward off birds. Propped up on wooden planks, they were eventually adopted by the Romans. In Germany, witches stood tall with hats and gowns scaring off even the bravest crow. In early North America, Native Americans used them to keep the birds away from their crops. When Europeans landed in North America, the Natives helped teach them all about farming and thus they were introduced to the scarecrow. Across the ocean, tall figures stood dressed in raincoats and hats, standing proudly over the rice fields of Japan. Today, we have come up with more effective ways to scare the crows away, but the scarecrow lives on as Halloween decorations and symbols of the fall spirit.

Works Cited: Souce¹, Source²


Contest Details

What would your scarecrow look like? The City of Maywood Park is holding a scarecrow contest. There are just a few requirements that must be met for your scarecrow to be included in judging:

  • ALL scarecrows must be homemade

  • 2’ - 6’ in height

  • Have a sunflower on its left lapel

  • Judging will take place November 1st - November 8th

The winning scarecrow being announced on the City website by 5pm November 10th. The creator of the winning scarecrow will receive a $50 gift card.

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