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Home > Dance > What connects damson beer and toast hanging from trees?

What connects damson beer and toast hanging from trees?

By Caroline King - January 10, 2014Posted in : Dance, Food & Drink, Walks

When: 11th January 2014 from 12.45

Where: In the damson orchard, The Row, Lyth Valley, Cumbria LA8 8DD

£: Free

What is it?

Join Crook Morris at their 6th Wassail Day on Saturday 11th January 2014, as they gather in the damson orchard at The Row, Lyth Valley, for singing, dancing and merriment.

Wassailing is traditionally an ancient English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest for the year ahead.  This Wassail Day in Cumbria, however, is aimed at bringing a good damson crop and features the passing around of damson beer instead of the usual mulled cider!

Crook Morris plan to meet at the  public footpath across from the Lyth Valley Hotel and take the short walk to The Row, where the damson orchard is located.  The walk will depart at around 12.45pm, so people planning to join in should aim to arrive before then.  Boots or wellies are advisable as it is likely to be muddy.

Crook Morris will gather outside the damson orchard for the beginning of the wassailing ceremony at around 1.30pm. Making as much noise as possible they will then surround one of the damson trees and begin singing.  Damson beer will be passed around and the morris group will eat some wassail cake, dunk pieces of toast in the beer and then hang the toast on the tree branches.  There will then be a dance by Crook Morris to finish off the ceremony (weather permitting).

The group will then make their way to the Hare & Hounds pub at nearby Bowland Bridge for about 3pm.  There will be dancing, singing, music sessions and a Mummers Play which will continue late into the night.  All are welcome along for this quirky day out and there should be ample parking at the pub.

More info: www.crookmorris.org.uk/wassailing

Related Posts

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  • Customs, capers and creatures in Chepstow
  • Festive Apple Wassailing and Mulled Wine Day at Gilbert White’s House & Garden
  • Watch traditional Lakeland sports in Ambleside

Tagged With: British Folk Customs, Crook Morris, Cumbria events, North West, Wassailing events

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