Much Marcle Wassail

Wassailing is a traditional luck-bringing custom 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. Revivals are particularly common in cider producing areas such as the West Country 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 Apostle fires and the Much Marcle Wassail at Westons Cider, which is organised by Silurian Morrismen, has these elements, followed by a Wassail Supper (supper needs to be booked in advance as space is limited). The evening begins with dancing outside Westons Cider, then a torchlit procession leads the way down the lane to the orchard, where the Apostle Fires have been prepared. As soon as the considerable crowd are all gathered around the central apple tree, wassail songs are sung and the fires are lit around the tree. Children are invited to distribute toast for the robins, cider is pure in a libation to the trees, the Bush is burned and more dancing and singing follow. You may see a Mari Lwyd or two, collecting for charity. It’s a really good evening out with all the wassailing elements you’d want!

Helpful Hints

It’s on a Saturday near 6th January and was on 6th itself in 2024. In 2025 it should be on Saturday January 4th (to be confirmed) and it’s now ticketed to control numbers- follow this link for tickets: https://www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/event/the-wassail/.

Arrive early as parking is limited and it’s a very popular event!

It’s organised by Silurian Morris – click here for their website: http://www.silurianmorris.org.uk

and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089356665939

and by Westons Cider – click here for their website: http://www.westons-cider.co.uk

Many thanks to Dale Martin for the splendid photos from 2017! The added could of photos are from 2020 (but Dale’s are better so I didn’t add too many!)