On the old Twelfth Night (17th January) a traditional ceremony known as a wassail takes place in villages and orchards across England. What is Wassailing, I hear you ask? This ancient custom usually involves a lot of singing, dancing and merriment, along with the hanging of cider-soaked toast from trees. The purpose of these quirky festivities is to ensure a good apple harvest for the coming year.
If you like the idea of making noise and having an excuse to drink cider then take a look at some of the events happening this year…
Winter Wassailing at The National Trust’s Swan Barn Farm
When: 22nd January 2016, 7pm – 9pm
Where: Swan Barn Farm, Black Down Estate, Collards Lane, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2HU
£: Free
What is it?
Help the National Trust banish the evil spirits from their orchard by joining them for an evening of spirit warding, superstition and fun.
Take along your pots and pans to help make some noise and scare away the spirits. You will also be able to sample the traditional drink of the ceremony, wassil, made with apples that have been pressed on the farm, and try their own Black Down beef burgers.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
Woods and Wassail
When: 14th January 2016, 10am – 5pm
Where: Lower Woods nature reserve, Wickwar, Gloucestershire GL9 1BY
£: Admission costs £4 per person or £12 for a family
What is it?
As well as enjoying a traditional wassail, visitors can find out what it takes to manage the nature reserve, learn to coppice and find out about traditional woodland skills. The wassail will take place at dusk in the recently restored orchard which will be overseen by the traditional ‘Wassail Butler’.
More info: www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk
Colwall Wassailing
When: 16th January 2016, 6pm
Where: Meet at Colwall Stone, Herefordshire
£: Entry costs £2.50 for adults and children go free
What is it?
Help raise money for the Colwall Community Orchard by joining in with their wassail. There will be a torch lit procession to the orchard so bring torches and lanterns to light your way. You are also encouraged to wear a silly hat, and bring pots, pans, spoons, whistles and horns in order to make a noise! There will be morris dancing, singing around the bonfire and mulled apple juice, cider and cakes.
More info: colwallorchardgroup.org/events
It’s time to go wassailing with The Pentacle Drummers (Photo: Hugh Wilton)
Pentacle Drummers Wassail
When: 16th January 2016, from 5.30pm
Where: Royal Oak & Castle Inn, Pevensey, East Sussex
£: Free but a donation of £1 is recommended
What is it?
This is the fourth annual Pentacle Drummers Wassail. Enjoy an evening of ceremony, drumming, dancing and friendship. The wassail will be a family friendly event with morris dancers, tribal dancers, a charity raffle and children’s activities. Remember to wrap up warm as the event will take place outside.
More info: www.pentacledrummers.co.uk/wassail and www.facebook.com/events
Crook Morris Wassail Day
When: 16th January 2016, from 1.15pm
Where: Lyth Valley, Cumbria
£: Free
What is it?
This will be the 8th Crook Morris Wassail Day with the ceremony taking place at the damson orchard at The Row (LA8 8DD). Visitors are recommended to park near, but not at, The Lyth Valley Hotel for 12.45pm at the latest. A public footpath across from the hotel will take you to The Row (boots or wellies are advisable). After a short walk participants will arrive at The Barn (home of Mrs Pat Walker) for 1.15pm, ready to gather outside the damson orchard for the ceremony. Everyone is then encouraged to make as much noise as possible as they approach the damson tree. After singing, damson beer is passed around and wassail cake is eaten. Pieces of toast are dunked in the beer and hung on the branches. Weather permitting, there is dancing before celebrations continue at the Hare & Hounds in Bowland Bridge from 3pm.
More info: www.facebook.com/Crook-Morris
The Forty Hall Farm Orchard Wassail
When: 17th January 2016 at 2pm
Where: Forty Hall Farm Orchard, Enfield EN1 4RQ
£: Free, although there is a suggested donation of £2
What is it?
Wrap up warm and head to the Forty Hall Farm Orchard for their annual wassailing ceremony to awaken the apple trees, scare away winter and bring good luck for the New Year. Visitors are welcome to help toast the good health of the trees and make lots of noise! Visitors should wear suitable footwear for the farm.
More info: www.fortyhallfarm.org.uk/events
Stoke Gabriel Wassail
When: 16th January 2016, from 4pm (main procession at 5.30pm)
Where: Stoke Gabriel Village Centre, Totnes, Devon
£: TBC
What is it?
Head to Stoke Gabriel for an evening of tradition and merriment with entertainment including the ancient wassail ceremony in the orchard, folk music, wassail singers, morris dancers, mummers players, storytelling and children’s crafts.
More info: www.stokegabriel.co.uk/Parish-Council/News/2016-Wassail
Frieze Hill Community Orchard Wassail
When: 16th January 2016, 5pm – 7pm
Where: Frieze Hill Community Orchard, Taunton, Somerset
£: Free
What is it?
Make a noise at the Frieze Hill Community Orchard Wassail on Saturday 16th January. Bring bells, whistles, horns or drums to help wake up the trees. There will be mulled cider and apple cake, a bbq, a bonfire and a few fireworks to enjoy. All noisy children are most welcome.
More info: www.communityorchard.org.uk
Brunel Museum Wassail (and the last hobbit)
When: 16th January 2016, from 6.30pm
Where: Brunel Museum Rooftop Garden, Railway Avenue, London SE16 4LF
£: Tickets cost £5
What is it?
The Brunel Museum is inviting guests to stoop through the Hobbit Hole and enter the underground chamber for stories from Tolkein: caves, adventures and dragons. Join the Butler of the Feast, the Wassail Queen and the Green Man to sing the Wassail Carol. Musical accompaniment will by provided by GreenTrad, and Piccalilli from Surrey Docks Farm will be serving hearty stew with artisan breads.
More info: www.brunel-museum.org.uk/events/wassail
Sandford Wassail
When: 23rd January 2016, from 6pm
Where: The Square, Devon
£: Free
What is it?
Wassail with music, mummers and morris men in Sandford village as they bless the orchards once again. The festivities promise to carry on into the night with cider and merriment. Visitors should note that there is limited parking in the village and good outdoor footwear is essential.
More info: www.facebook.com/sandfordorchards