Wassailing.

In my Facts about the month of January, I mentioned the old “Saxon” custom of “Wassailing” that was once celebrated widely across the U.K but has slowly disappeared over the years. The custom is still carried out in several counties across the U. K and is a very popular event that people enjoy.

Wassailing can be traced back to the1400s and has been associated with Christmas and the New Year, and it was a way of passing on good wishes amongst family and friends.

The “Wassail” is an Ale-bassed drink that contains Spices and Honey, it was served from a large bowl that was made from Silver or Pewter and was passed form one person to another to take a sip and was greeted with the word “Wassil”. The word “Wassil” is an Old English word that means “be well” and it comes from the Saxon word “waes hael”.

There are three ways of “Wassailing” which are; to pass the drink around a room from person to person in a large drinking vessel sometimes referred to as “the Loving Cup” to be shared and greeted

with the traditional saying of the word “waes hael”, or to take the bowl around the houses from door to door where they would sing a “Wassailing Song” bearing good wishes in exchange for a drink, food and money and the third way is the celebration of the Apple Harvest or the Blessing of the trees.

The Wassailing of Apple Trees.

The Wassailing of Apple Trees is what I am going to tell you about, as this practice of celebrating the Apple trees is still carried out in several counties across Britain. The Apple Tree waissailing is a ceremony which involves drinking to the Health of the tree. The people of the village in most farming communities would meet in all or one of the many Orchards that were once to be found across England on or around the 12^th of January to carry out the “Wassail”. The celebrations got under way with the lighting of a fire and then the people would gather around the trees to sprinkle some wassail over the branches of the trees, the largest and the best tree in the orchard would be selected and this would have Cider poured over it's roots. They would then place pieces of toast soaked in cider on and amongst the branches of the tree and the main part of the celebrations would start to take place. All the people would have brought with them pots and pans and the orchard owner would have his shot gun, the people would then begin to make a tremendous noise banging their pots and pans together and the firing of the shot gun would take place. This was to raise the Sleeping Trees Spirit and to scare away the Demons. The gathered people would then recite these words;

“Wassail these trees that they may be

You many a plum apple and many a pear

For more or less fruits they will bring

As you do give them wassailing.

As the celebrations continued singing and dancing began and the “wassail” would be passed around amongst the crowd and the wassail song would be chanted or sung as a blessing or a to bring a good harvest of fruit the following year.

The Wassailing Song.

Oh Apple tree, we'll wasail thee

And hoping thou will bear

For the Lord does know where we we may go

To be merry another year.

To grow well and bear well

And so merrily let us be

Let every man drink up his glass

And a health to the old apple tree

Brave boys, and a health to the old apple tree.

The celebrations would continue till late at night with dancing and drinking and everyone taking part.These events that are being revived or have carried on over many years now include Morris Dancers and other attractions to them, for people to enjoy and take part or watch the ceremony take place. One of the nearest locations to Burton On Trent where you can see and enjoy this event is at

The Fleece Inn, Bretforeton, Nr Evesham, in Worcestershire, travel time to get there is around 2 hours. The pub is run by Nigel Smith a former Burtonion who worked at Marstons. The pub is a National Trust property and is in a lovely old Cotsword type Farmhouse that dates back hundreds of years. It changed from a Farm to an Inn and became licenced in 1848, it has one of the U K's largest Pewter collections on display and there are Whitches Circles in the old fireplace and it regulary holds various events throughout the year.

Other venues include.

Old Mill Farm Bolney, Sussex.

Middle Farm, Sussex.

The Butchers Arms, Carhampton, Somerset.

And it the town of Monmouth, Wales.