When: 18th January 2013, 7pm – 10pm
Where: Swan Barn Farm, Black Down, Surrey
£: Free (booking is advisable, phone 01428 652359)
What is it?
Bad apple harvest this year? Learn the art of the wassail and improve your chances of a bumper crop this year by taking part in an ancient rite that dates back centuries. Join Swan Barn Farm for an evening of spirit warding, superstition and family fun by performing a torch-lit traditional wassailing ceremony to banish the evil spirits from the orchards. Gather around their most venerable apple tree and sing the wassailing song to banish the evil spirits from its branches. Under torchlight once again make your way back to the junior orchard where there will be a selection of hot food and drink for you to sample.
To keep you warm there will be bonfires and delicious hot food but you’ll be wise to dress warmly and appropriately for a January night. Safety torches for the procession are provided. In addition they will have burgers for sale, made from the farm’s very own Black Down beef as well as beautiful home-made soups and baked potatoes with a selection of toppings. Also on offer will be the traditional drink of the ceremony, wassail, a type of mulled cider and a junior wassail for the children both made with apples pressed on the farm.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk