Ovingham Community Orchard Wassail

There are wassailing events all around the country, many part of the modern wassail revival of the twenty-first century, and the event at the Community Orchard at Ovingham in Northumberland is a new event drawing on the old traditions. Wassailing is a 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. The event at Ovingham is one of the latter, and includes making a terrific noise banging post and pans to frighten away any evil spirits that might be lurking around, the chant to encourage a bumper crop, and the hanging of toast in the trees to feed the robins. In 2023 we also gathered in the pompoms which had been hung on Tree Dressing Day in December, while we were placing the toast on the branches. Mulled apple juice and cider were served along with tasty cakes, and marshmallows were toasted at the fire.

Helpful Hints

It’s a very new event, so may evolve a little over time, and is very informal and friendly. In 2025 it should be on Sunday 19th January. All are welcome.

Click here for the Orchard’s web page: https://ovinghamcommunityorchard.home.blog

and here for the village Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whatsoninovingham