| Where: | Countrywide but especially in orchard areas |
| When: | Late December to mid-January |
| Time: | Afternoon/Evening (times vary) |
Wassailing is a traditional luck-bringing custom often associated with apple orchards dating back at least a few hundred years; the word has its origins in the Old English toast “waes hael” meaning Good Health. There are two types of wassail: the house visiting custom where a group of singers tour around local properties singing and spreading cheer, and the orchard wassail where a group visit an orchard location to encourage its fertility in the year to come. Revivals are particularly common in cider producing areas such as the West Country, the Garden of England and Herefordshire and are usually in mid-January but can take place as early as the run-up to Christmas. Expect singing, morris dancing, cider offerings to the trees (and in some cases pieces of toast), beating the branches and lots of noise including firing shotguns into the trees to wake them up. There are a few traditional carols associated with wassailing and if you’re lucky a wassail bowl will be passed around containing a warming drink. Some wassailing ceremonies are listed separately in the tables as they have either a long tradition or a unique aspect to them. In Herefordshire you may see the Burning of the Bush and Herefordshire lanterns (the Much Marcle Wassail at Westons Cider, organised by Silurian Morrismen usually has these and also a seprarate entry on this site). Now that there are so many new and revived wassails around the country it’s not possible to list them all here but as there are now literally at least a couple of hundred you should be able to track one down! The National Trust have been organising a number at various locations around the country and some of the photos in the gallery are from Dyrham Park, one of their country houses; their events are usually held in daytime and are very family friendly.
Helpful Hints
Many wassailing events are associated with Morris Dancing sides. To find one near you, click here http://www.morrisfed.org.uk/
and here : http://www.themorrisring.org/
and for Silurian Morris click here : http://www.silurianmorris.org.uk/
Also a few festivals and notable events are listed in the calendar tables for January and December but these are by no means exhaustive – with over 200 wassailing events taking place annually we can’t list all of them here! However there’s a good selection listed at : https://tradfolk.co/customs/wassailing/where-to-wassail-this-year/?fbclid=IwAR1txLMx72Tvpa_2Q_tpRyrPWQ8SPkiXX1TwPLq9kiD2Z7BD4oUxGsWBrKQ
Photo by Tracey P of Pilgrim Morris.
The picture is of Pilgrim Morris Men.
If anyone is interested Kilmersdon Wassail always takes place on the third Saturday of January, so close to the 17th as possible. Starts at the Village Hall with ploughmans lunches available, the Queen is crowned about 1.15 p.m. then we all process through the village to the Community Orchard where we Wassail the trees, then process back to the Old School House and Wassail the apple trees there, everyone is then given tea and apple cake. We have in attendance The Village Band and Cam Valley Morris.
Kilmersdon is 11 miles south of Bath. Information contact 01761 437372
Thanks for the info Martin – sounds like a proper Wassail.Isn’t it marvellous that many Wassailing events are prospering now, after so many years where they’d nearly disappeared? Hope you have a good one this year!
Averil
Not this year though Martin,from what I hear ?
There seem to be more Wassail events around Surrey and the Surrey/Berkshire border this year. They were advertised for Bracknell and Warfield in Berkshire, and we’ve just been to a Wassail in Outwood, Surrey that had a torchlit parade winding to a community orchard. In fact, what with so many flaming torches, a blazing beacon and a bonfire, it was more like a fire festival.
North Somerset. Nailsea Transition Town 5th annual revival of the ancient orchard wassail will take place on Saturday 16th January 2016 from 5.00pm-approximately 6-30pm. Starting at the Old Farmhouse Pub off Trendlewood Way, lantern light procession to the community orchard, ending with Mummers play back at the pub. Songs throughout by Barley Rye choir. Take mug for mulled cider or apple juice, wear wellies or stout shoes, take noise makers and lantern. Victorian dress optional.
free but donations welcomed to cover costs
See website or e-mail for pictures and more details
Pentacle Drummers Wassail which is now at the Oak and Castle in Pevensey is very good and usually on second Saturday of January. Very spectacular procession and Orchard Blessing as they have the help of the Bonfire Societies to make a tremendous noise to scare off evil spirits
Thanks Ian,
It’s good to have recommendations as there are now so many Wassail events that it’s hard to keep track! I live in hopes that one day a wassail enthusiast will take on the immense task of making a comprehensive website devoted to wassailing events with a link to all the different locations (but there probably aren’t that many people who’d be daft enough to start a website…). I can imagine the bonfire societies will be up for a spirited and enthusiastic hullabaloo!
Best wishes,
Averil