There are basically 2 forms of wassailing one is a form or carolling and one is related to the apple orchards of the Summerlands (Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) referred to as Orchard-Visiting Wassail. Both these types of Wassailing take place on 12th night ((eve 5th /) 6th or 17th of January depending on how traditional they are).
Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows Eve now more commonly known as Samhain / Halloween. The singing wassailing is traditional associated with wishing good health upon a household these tidings of joy and good health where rewarded with gifts of food and drink. Wassailers would announce their arrival to a property by singing “Here We Come A-Wassailing”, and this singing was an offering of peace and friendship and on greeting the householder would show that come in peace would sign “we are not daily beggars that beg from door to door but we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before.” And begging was considered to be disgusting Wassailing became an acceptable form charity giving. Peasants would sing to the lords of the manor exchanging wishes of good will and health.
The Orchard-Visiting Wassail seems to have a much deeper but more local connection and has a pagan feel. The Orchard-Visiting Wassail is a drinking and singing ritual designed to wake the apple trees used to make cider and insure they produce lots of fruit. Still practiced to day in many Orchards in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire has they have been practiced for many many generations and many have grown in to such event that you need tickets to get in.
The Orchard-Visiting Wassail takes the form of a procession from one orchard to another lead by the King and / or Queen of the wassail. The wassail King or Queen is a cross between a Master of Ceremonies and a Lord of Misrule. The King and / or Queen of the wassail lead the procession in song Then they are lifted in to the branches where they lay offerings of toast with butter or honey or dripped in cider from a cup then there is lots of noise making and banging their the procession continues along to the next orchard. Much drinking of cider takes place so there is lots merriment and signing often very loud.
Wassail Events
Annual Wassail (17 January)
Barrington Court
Barrington, near Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0NQ
Telephone: 01460 242614 (Infoline)
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-barringtoncourt
If you know of a Wassailing Event leave a comment and i will add “brightest blessings draco”
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Related articles
- Wassail (library.ualberta.ca)
- In praise of … the English apple (guardian.co.uk)
