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; and generally making lots of noise, with anything from pots and pans to gun fire, to frighten away any evil spirits.
The purpose of these quirky festivities is to ensure a good apple harvest for the coming year. So, it’s no surprise that many of the orchards in the South West, home to our cider production, will be taking part in this traditional custom. But there are a growing number of events taking place across the UK.
If you like the idea of making a ridiculous amount of noise and having an excuse to drink cider, then take a look at some of the events happening this month…
Lyth Valley Wassail and Mummers Play (Photo: Contrary Life)
Crook Morris Wassail Day
When: 19th January 2019, from 1.15pm
Where: Lyth Valley, Cumbria
£: Free
What is it?
This will be the 11th annual Crook Morris Wassail Day, with the ceremony taking place at a local damson orchard (The Row, LA8 8DD). Visitors usually meet by The Lyth Valley Hotel for 12.45pm, before walking to the orchard (boots or wellies are advisable). At 1.15pm participants will gather outside the damson orchard for the ceremony, which is where the fun starts. 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 some dancing, before celebrations continue at the Hare & Hounds in Bowland Bridge, from 3pm. Here a Mummers’ play is performed, and the drinking and dancing continues…
More info: www.crookmorris.org.uk/programme and www.facebook.com/events
Colwall Wassail
When: 19th January 2019, 5.30pm
Where: Meet at Colwall Stone, Colwall, Herefordshire
£: Entry costs £3 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 and singing around the bonfire, as well as mulled apple juice, cider, beer, hog roast, veggie pasties and cakes. Wellies and warm clothes are advisable.
More info: colwallorchardgroup.org
Frieze Hill Community Orchard Wassail
When: 12th January 2019, 5pm – 7pm
Where: Frieze Hill Community Orchard, Taunton, Somerset
£: Free
What is it?
Make a noise at the Frieze Hill Community Orchard Wassail, by bringing bells, whistles, horns or drums to help wake up the trees. There will be mulled cider, apple cake, a bonfire, and bacon rolls to enjoy. Entertainment will come in the form of the Big Noise Street Band and the Taunton Thespian Mummers. All noisy children are most welcome. Wear wellies and bring a torch.
More info: www.communityorchard.org.uk
It’s time to go wassailing with The Pentacle Drummers (Photo: Hugh Wilton)
Pentacle Drummers Wassail
When: 19th January 2019, from 6pm
Where: Royal Oak & Castle Inn, Pevensey, East Sussex
£: Free
What is it?
This is the seventh annual Pentacle Drummers Wassail. Enjoy an evening of ceremony, drumming, dancing and friendship. The wassail will be a family friendly event with Morris dancers, fire dancers, and a charity raffle. Participants can follow a small torch-lit procession to the ceremony. Remember to wrap up warm as the event will take place outside.
More info: www.facebook.com/events
Midnight Apothecary Wassail at the Brunel Museum
When: 12th January 2019, 6pm – 10pm
Where: Brunel Museum Rooftop Garden, Railway Avenue, London SE16 4LF
£: Tickets cost £8
What is it?
The Brunel Museum is inviting guests to an ancient appley affair. Join the Butler of the Feast, the Wassail Queen and the Green Man to sing the Wassail Carol, along with GreenTad folk musicians. Enjoy some cider-based concoctions and other warming cocktails, toast marshmallows around the fire, and tuck into some hot food.
More info: www.brunel-museum.org.uk/events
Sandford Wassail
When: 12th January 2019, from 6.30pm
Where: Parade from The Lamb Inn to The Millennium Green, Sandford, 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. Join the walk to the Millennium Green for a bonfire, Morris dancing, comedy, toasted marshmallows and the orchard’s mulled cider. Visitors should note that there is limited parking in the village and good outdoor footwear is essential.
More info: www.facebook.com/events
Wassailing at Avalon Orchard
When: 19th January 2019, 2pm – 6pm
Where: The Orchard at Glastonbury Tor, Somerset
£: Tickets cost £3 for adults and £1 for children
What is it?
The National Trust ranger team are having a family friendly, festive celebration in the orchard at Glastonbury Tor. Tours of the Tor will be available from 2pm, and there’ll be singing, storytelling and cider. The path to the wassailing ceremony will be signposted and lit on the afternoon, so head along with some warm clothes, a torch and (most importantly) cash for the bar.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
Penkhull Wassail
When: 19th January 2019, from 4pm
Where: Starts from Penkhull Village Hall, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire
£: Free (the Ceilidh afterwards is ticketed)
What is it?
Domesday Morris will be leading a torch-lit procession through the village, stopping along the way for singing and dancing, calling at various local pubs. There’ll be appearances from Penkhull Brass and the Penkhull Mystery Singers, as well as some free home-made cider wassail!
More info: domesdaymorris.co.uk/wassail
Gower Wassail Festival
When: 12th & 13th January 2019, from 10am
Where: Gower Heritage Centre, Parkmill, Swansea SA3 2EH
£: Admission costs £7 for adults and £6 for children. Concessions available
What is it?
Gower Heritage Centre is celebrating with a whole weekend of entertainment for their wassail and Mari Lwyd (the Welsh wassailing tradition involving a horse’s skull). Over the weekend there’ll be cider, live music, wassailing in the orchard, and a torch lit parade. Not to mention Mummers, local food, apples and singing.
More info: www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk/whatson
Whimple Wassail
When: 17th January 2019, 6.30pm
Where: Meet at the New Fountain Inn, Whimple, Exeter
£: Free
What is it?
Join the wassail ceremony around the History Society’s Whimple Wonder Tree and Woodhayes Orchard. Follow the procession as its makes its way around the local area before retiring for some wassail drinks and music at the Cricket Club. Help ward off the spirits by bringing along a noisy instrument and join in the fun by dressing up in traditional attire.
More info: www.whimple.org/events
Winter Wassailing at The National Trust’s Swan Barn Farm
When: 19th January 2019, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Swan Barn Farm, Black Down Estate, Collards Lane, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2HU
£: Free, no booking needed
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, wassail, made with apples that have been pressed on the farm. Children and well-behaved dogs on leads welcome. The ground may be muddy, so some wellies are advisable.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Stoke Gabriel Wassail
When: 19th January 2019, from 4pm
Where: Stoke Gabriel Village Centre, Totnes, Devon
£: There is usually a small admission fee
What is it?
Head to Stoke Gabriel for an evening of tradition and merriment with entertainment including the ancient wassail ceremony in the orchard, live music, street theatre, children’s entertainment, food and local cider.
More info: www.facebook.com/stokegabrielwassail
Wassailing Day at Weald and Downland Living Museum
When: 19th January 2019, 10.30pm – 4pm
Where: Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0EU
£: Admission costs £15.50 for adults and £7.50 for children. Concessions are available and tickets for the orchard wassail must be booked in advance
What is it?
Join the museum for wassail themed activities and a trip to the orchard, with songs and performances along the way. Decorate the trees with bread and cider, before making lots of noise! There’ll be traditional craft activities, talks, tours and warmed spiced drinks on the day.
More info: www.wealddown.co.uk/events/wassailing-day
There are further wassails at Sheppy’s Cider in Somerset, Stroud in Gloucestershire, and a wassail and feast at The Ethicurean in Bristol. If you know of any other wassail events taking place, then let us know!