Ses mesurades, the farming celebration of counting the wheat

Among the old customs deeply rooted in the Menorcan countryside was the celebration of ses mesurades, the counting of the amount of wheat harvested by each farm during the year. It was not merely an agricultural task. It was also a communal event, a quiet celebration and a recognition of the effort invested throughout the entire harvest.

When the appointed day arrived, the farmer made sure that all the harvested wheat had been piled in the centre of the threshing floor. He also called upon other farmers, farmhands, relatives, friends and neighbours to help with a task that, beyond the calculation itself, had a strong ritual character. The landowner and the farmer who worked the estate invited those present, and the event became a gathering of fellowship, experienced with joy and respect.

When the time came, everyone made their way to the enclosure where the threshing floor stood, a paved circle surrounded by a white railing that had been the heart of the farm throughout the summer. In its centre rose the mound of wheat, treasured and admired, the result of months of work. At the top of the heap there was usually a long cane crowned with a black cloth, like a small pennant, to frighten away the birds and prevent them from turning that treasure into food.

Before beginning, those present would usually make their predictions about how many barcelles the pile might contain. Amid great anticipation, the measuring began. Using the heavy celemí, the measurers filled and emptied the grain again and again, while the bolillo turned and a clear voice announced each measure: “First one!”, “That makes two!”, “That makes nine!”, until the final count was reached. Each quantity was recorded on a dry stalk, where marks or notches were made with a knife so that no one lost track of the total.

Meanwhile, the guests sat on the hard railing of the threshing floor, commenting on the day’s work and joking among themselves. The younger people listened; the older farmers contributed their experience, while the landowner, together with a trusted man, followed the count attentively.

Once the work was finished, it was time for refreshments. The landowner and the farmer would usually offer those present fritters or sweets, aniseed liqueur, watermelon and traditional cakes, which the lady of the house presented with the care typical of a well-run farmhouse. It was the pleasant conclusion to an event that had begun as a necessity and ended as a celebration.

Often, the white moon would appear as the group returned to the houses, amid lively conversations and innocent songs. In the silence of the countryside, far from the noise of the world, ses mesurades were far more than the counting of wheat: they represented a way of understanding life, shared work and the ancient peace of Menorca’s country estates.