From Halloween!,  by Silver Ravenwolf

The corn dolly is a European practice that centers on making a doll out of the last stock of corn harvested in the fall, although other plants from the fields such as barley, oats, wheat, or rye could be used.  To the early pagans she was the embodiment of the harvest,  and they thought of quite a few interesting magical things to do with her.  

Some poured water over the doll as a fertility charm; or she might be wed to a corn man,  attend the Harvest Festival dance, be fed to farm animals to protect their health, or be burned in the community bonfire as an offering of thanks. In some traditions the corn dolly is put to bed until spring, where she is reawakened and plowed into the New Garden.