“Hay-foot, straw-foot” was a term my late granny loved to use as we marched around her West Cork farm.
“Let’s go east for the pigs. Come on now. Hay foot, straw foot.”
I remember asking granny why she said “hay-foot, straw-foot”, and she explained that years ago in Ireland hay and straw were used to teach Irish dancing.
Teaching the Irish To Dance:
I pondered what hay and straw had to do with a few jigs and reels.
Granny’s hypothesis proposed hay was tied to one foot, and straw to the other foot so that country folk could tell their right from left, as they learned to step dance.
I never knew whether to believe Granny – she could tell a tall tale with the very best of storytellers, but to my pleasant surprise I discovered she really did know what she was talking about when it came to “hayfoot, strawfoot” dance steps.
Cover from a 1934 publication of Irish Dances – public domain image from Germany
RTE (the Irish broadcasting company) recorded a radio documentary called Hayfoot, Strawfoot, Dancing Masters. This wonderful presentation about the history of Irish dancing can still be listened to on their website.
Here’s a quick summary of what I learned ……
In eighteenth century Ireland wandering dance masters traveled from village to village, spreading their love of step dancing wherever they roamed. Teaching intricate Irish dance steps is no easy feat when your pupils can’t tell their right foot from their left foot.
To solve the problem these flamboyant dance teachers would tie hay to one foot, and straw to another. Then they simply issued instructions to “lift hay foot” or “lift straw foot” to get dancing prodigies frolicking around the dance floors with flying feet.
Differences Between Hay And Straw:
To urban dwellers of today who cannot tell straw from hay, this may seem a very unusual way of teaching right from left.
The fine strands of a hay bale
Anyone with a little farming background will understand the distinctive difference between both. No farmer’s son nor daughter would ever mistake a bale of hay for a bale of straw.
Hay is made by cutting and drying grass. Straw on the other hand (or foot) is the dried stalks of cereal plants like wheat. It is usually used for animal bedding and thatching. Straw can be used as fodder, but hay would be any cow’s preference for feed.
The thicker and hollower strands of a straw bale.
I’m sure you never thought you’d be learning the differences between hay and straw when you stopped by my little corner of the world wide web today.
As I researched this post I learned this term is not used in Ireland alone ….
‘Hayfoot, Strawfoot’ In The American Civil War:
Being Irish born I assumed this phrase to be exclusively Irish, but as I investigated further I discovered the phrase was used extensively in the United States.
At the time of the Civil War teaching new recruits to march was as difficult as teaching Irish peasants to dance. Wisps of hay and straw once again came to the rescue – hay on the left and straw on the right. By chanting “hay-foot, straw-foot, hay-foot, straw-foot” the squad learned to step off on the left foot as all soldiers are required to do.
The term “strawfoot” was even used to describe a green recruit.
Here’s a little rhythmic chant used by soldiers at that time.
“March! March! March old soldier march!
Hayfoot, strawfoot,
Belly-full of bean soup—
March old soldier march!”
You can read more about the Civil War usage of this term on the American Heritage website, a wonderful resource for American history.
A Silent Movie:
In 1919 Paramount Pictures released a silent movie called Hay Foot, Straw Foot. The survival status of this comedy is unknown, which means it may well be a lost film.
The use of this phrase as a movie title suggests to me the term was easily recognized and accepted by the American public in the early 20th century.
Books:
In 1967 the Viking Press published a children’s book called Hay-foot, Straw-foot by Erick Berry, recounting the story of the French and Indian War, through the eyes of a young boy eager to be a recruit in General Abercrombie’s (1706 – 1781) army. This British general suffered disastrous losses in the Battle of Carillon in 1758.
“Hay Foot, Straw Foot” – An Irish And American Legacy:
And so I believe this little phrase may have origins both in Ireland and in America. My quick research gave me cause to wonder if Irish immigrants to the United States brought the phrase with them.
However, the use of the phrase in America can be traced back to the 18th century, so perhaps it is a term that started in America and was brought to Ireland by returning immigrants. But very few immigrants returned to Ireland in the 18th century.
Or was it a term used primarily during the American Civil War, but writers and historians assumed it was also used earlier when training soldiers to fight in the American Indian wars?
I do not have the answers to these questions. It’s amazing how one little phrase I learned in Ireland, when briefly researched, opened up a whole new world of shared Irish and American experiences.
I hope you enjoyed my exploration of this Irish and American phrase and hope my ramblings today gave you some food for thought.
Slán agus beannacht!
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
Here are some other ramblings and recipes about all things Irish and Irish American, which you might enjoy.
Never Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story
Now where else would we get something like this except for Irish American Mom! This is so cool; thank you Mairead! I love it!
Thanks so much, Claire. Glad you enjoyed my ramblings. While hiking with my kids I found myself repeating “hay foot, straw foot” trying to motivate them to keep going as they were getting tired. I then reflected on how I first learned the phrase from my granny, and once I investigated the term on the internet I grew intrigued. It amazed me to learn that a phrase like this was shared between Ireland and America.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mairéad
The things you find out from a simple phrase from your granny. Me thinks it may have something to do with the agricultural societies at the time, concepts more easily accepted with common objects, hay or straw, rather than concepts, left or right. In the fall I have people looking for bales of “hay” for decoration when anyone who read this article, or learned to step dance in the country would know they are bales of straw.
Cheers,
Brian.
Brian – More than likely this phrase and method of teaching right from left developed and spread on both sides of the Atlantic, rather than one culture bringing the concept to the other. Two agricultural societies probably did choose the same common and “easily” identifiable items, that could be tied around ankles, and which were available at no cost, as their right/left teaching tools. Just like you, every fall it amazes me how many people identify their bales of straw as hay. We go for hay rides with the kids, but lets face it, they actually are straw rides.
All the best,
Mairéad
Great stories and research! I love watching Irish dance! I remember a man in a pub in Kilarney dancing with a broom! Was lovely!
Hi Tressa – A straw broom – the perfect Irish dancing partner. A broom handle is straight and upright, just as you’re supposed to hold your back when step dancing. I remember learning Irish dancing as a child, and constantly being told to hold my shoulders back and stop slouching. No problem for the broom. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely Irish dancing memory.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Hmmmmm, Mairead, I’ve watched the River Dance high steppers and it seems to me given all the fancy footwork required, it would be difficult to keep the “fodder” attached to one’s feet. Perhaps, too, the straw/hay would make dancers lighter on their feet? Reminds me of Jody Baxter’s friend Fodderwing in The Yearling: the lad had a hankering to fly, tied bundles of “light weight” airy pea vines to his arms, leaped from the barn, and crippled himself for life.
I wonder if the phrases might have sailed across the ocean with the Irish folk wishing a new life in Amerikay? I’ve never heard the phrases before and believe their usage has yet to span the continent.
We Washingtonians know about hay and straw, ours being a wheat growing state, along with dairy and beef cattle. Almost daily, semi loads of hay and straw roll by our house hauling “fodder” to W. Washington’s dairy and horse barns. I’ve seen cargoes of gleaming straw roll by that in rendering them into gold would make Rumplestiltskin sweat.
Hay: we have crops of grass hay in the Valley. Then there’s pasture hay…and for those with two left feet, IAM, there’s alfalfa hay. What a treasure chest of trivia you share with your readers. Thanks. TMJ
And thank you T.M. for checking out my treasure chest of Irish American trivia so frequently, and always adding to the conversation. A high stepping row of River Dancers sure would look strange with wisps of hay and straw attached to their feet, and floating through the air. The image made me laugh.
I’d say you see your fair share of hay and straw living in the rural Northwest. Plenty here in Kentucky too.
All the best,
Mairéad
You know I heard my father saying this when I was growing up, but I never really thought about the phrase until now. Thanks for sharing this background information. It’s very interesting.
Hi Sinead – I wonder if any other readers ever heard this phrase growing up, whether living in Ireland or America. It may be a phrase that has died out on both sides of the Atlantic.
Take care,
Mairéad
Great phrase AND explanation!! Had never heard of it before. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Michael – glad to introduce you to a phrase from days gone by, which probably holds hidden links between Ireland and America.
All the best,
Mairéad
Thank you so much!
I’m a french musician and I’m trying to learn the song “Hay Foot, Straw Foot” written by David Eugene Edwards, but I couldn’t figure out what it means, so thank you, now it’s clear!
Hi Martin – I’m delighted to hear this rambling post helped you in your search for the meaning of “Hay Foot, Straw Foot.” Best of luck as you learn your new song.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
I had not heard the phrase before this page, but my wife grew up on a ranch in Colorado and stresses the difference between hay and straw very strongly – she says “You can’t grow horses and cattle on straw!” Years ago I had a girlfriend who has a horse, and she showed me the difference between hay and alfalfa, but that hay was really straw! Alfalfa was the treat for a good horse… 🙂
But really, I write because I want to know why the Irish dancers do not move their w=arms! I looks totallu weird to me t see fancy dancing with the arms hed rigid by the sides. Is that a leftover from repressive Catholic rules? It makes it all look so strange to me.
Hi Lou – I’m glad to hear your wife can tell the difference between hay and straw. I love her saying – “You can’t grow horses and cattle on straw!”
As for why there are no arm movements in Irish dancing, I have no definitive answer. Theories abound. Associating no arm movements with repressive
Catholic rules is probably the most common theory. Perhaps the church didn’t want boys and girl mixing inappropriately and banned all hand holding. The only problem with this proposal is that céilí and sean-nós style Irish dancing does allow arm movements. Céilí dancing is Irish step dancing done in groups and is similar to square dancing. Hand holding and arm lifting occur frequently in these dance movements. This would have been the type of dancing done at crossroads in Ireland many years ago. Since there was plenty of hand holding during these dances, I’m going to throw out the repressive Church theory for no hand movements in Irish dancing. This is a very interesting subject and I wish I knew the answer. If I discover a good rational I will definitely share it in a blog post.
All the best,
Mairéad
nice article author .You can find the difference between Hay and Straw in very precise and definite way in this link Hay vs Straw
Hi Stacey – Thanks for the information and the link.
All the best,
Mairéad
I came across your website by trying to research a saying from a knitting website where the writer had made a reference about straw feet. I didn’t know what that meant even though I am Irish American with some German throwed in on my dad’s side. Also, considering I am a farmer’s daughter you would think that I would know these things,however, I didnt.
I really enjoyed your blog and my question was answered by your research especially with the Civil War. I now know that the knitter was referring to rookie knitters, like myself. Lol
Hi Linda – I’m so glad you found my little corner of the world wide web and enjoyed my ramblings about “hay foot, straw foot” – a saying from my Irish childhood. It amazes me how many shared expressions there are between Ireland and America.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mairéad
I really enjoyed reading about Hay Foot/ Straw Foot ,although I was raised on a Farm in Kildare & grew up with Bringing in the Hay & playing in the Hay Reek & also the Straw except the Straw was so rough it would Chaff your legs !!
My Husband & I would love to read the Book & would love to see the Movie –but as you say it may be lost !!
I’m an Irish /Australian living here since 1988. I’m writing my Memoirs now so my 11 Grandchildren & future generations will know their Irish Heritage & Culture !!
My Granny also used the Phrase between the Jigs & the reals as did her Daughters too .!! A great one also was if you were very busy doing a multitude of things in the day !!
” I was passing myself by & meeting myself half way coming back ”
I find my Grandchildren are already picking up Irish Phrases , as my two Son’s in-law are Irish also so the kids get to visit Ireland every couple of years & get to enjoy Farm life which is wonderful !!
Thanks for an informative read !!
Hi Rosaleen – Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my ramblings and adding to our little discussion of all things Irish. Like you I remember avoiding bales of straw and only jumping on hay bales to protect bare legs. It takes time on a farm to be able to recognize the difference between hay and straw.
It’s lovely to hear your grandchildren are picking up some Irish phrases. I laugh when I hear my kids uttering some very Irish expression to one of their American friends. I love your granny’s saying about meeting her self on the way back. That’s a great one from the past.
Anyway, happy writing and wishing you every success as you complete your memoir, and stop by again whenever you get a moment.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
I’m an American born in Australia of predominantly Irish ancestry; I’ve lived here in the States for over 50 years and the first time I heard the phrase was today while watching a 1939 movie (Young Mr. Lincoln with Henry Fonda). In the movie there’s a parade with Civil War soldiers and a group of laughing men are shouting out “hay foot, straw foot” at the soldiers.
Thank you for your fun explanation of what the phrase means and how it came about. Also thanks for the photos showing the difference between hay and straw because like most people I didn’t know the difference so at first I questioned how one could tell the difference between their two feet even using the hay and the straw haha. 🙂
Hi Lizzie – I’m so glad my rambling story gave you some background information for this vintage phrase. Linguistics and language fascinate me.
Best wishes, and thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad