What is a wassail?

Wassailing dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, traditionally taking place on Twelfth Night (originally the 17 January, before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752). The centuries-old ritual has Pagan roots and is intended to awaken the apple trees from their winter slumber. This involves blessing the orchards, reciting incantations, dancing, singing traditional songs and clattering pots and pans to scare away evil spirits and secure a bountiful apple harvest come autumn. Wassail gets its name from an Old English term meaning ‘be well’, which was shouted like a toast at festivities in the darkest days of January while drinking hot spiced alcohol and cider. Traditions vary slightly from place to place but usually, the wassail starts at dusk and is sometimes led by a Wassail King or Queen.

Branches of the trees may be hit to frighten away evil spirits, cider is often poured on the roots of the oldest tree and pieces of toast, cake or bread are put into the branches to feed the good spirits or entice robins – believed to be the ‘guardians of the orchard’. Afterwards, the trees of the orchard are serenaded with songs, Morris dancing and tasting the wassail drink. So if you thought a good crop of apples was all about the soil type and climate, now you know that’s not the case! If you’d like to experience this ancient tradition, there are of course loads of places to take part in a Somerset Wassail – this is cider country after all!

WHERE TO WASSAIL LOCALLY

Wassail Night, Bere Cider Company, Langport  BBQ from 5pm, Morris Dancing at 6pm, wassail at 6.30pm and live music from The Somerset Paddies at Bere Cider Company at 7pm! Pop along for a glass of mulled cider or hot choccie. Snacks and Cake also available. WASSAIL  OUR ANNUAL WASSAIL EVENT! WE WILL BE OPEN ALL DAY FROM 9AM BBQ FROM 5PM MORRIS DANCING AT 6PM THEN THE BIG WASSAIL CEREMONY AT 6:30PM FOLLOWED BY MUSIC FROM THE SOMERSET PADDIES AT 7PM FREE ENTRY AND NO TICKETS REQUIRED WE HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU ENJOYING OUR NIGHT OF FUN		Woodpecker Lodge, Bere, Aller, Langport, Somerset, TA10 0QX   13 January 2024,  9 am-11.30pm  Free entry, no tickets required		Website: http://www.berecidercompany.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BereCiderCompany
Buttercross Community Orchard Wassail,  In 2012 Dunster revived the tradition of Apple Tree Wassailing which had died in the 1950s. A new Orchard of 54 apple trees and three Dunster Plum trees was established at the Butter Cross in St Georges Street and as a new project it was thought that we would need all the help we could get to attract the good spirits and drive away the evil spirits if the Orchard was to be a success. Since 2012, Dunster First School children have assisted in the Wassailing. On 17 January every year representatives of all five years arrive in the morning, douse toast with apple juice and hang it from the trees which the school sponsor, to attract good spirits. They bring tins and drums, and along with the traditional Dunster Wassailing Song they make enough noise (and a bit extra) to drive off any evil spirits. In the evening, just to make sure, the adults arrive to continue attracting good spirits and continue the assault on the evil spirits around the campfires. Local musicians and story tellers entertain the crowd with stories and traditional songs from Somerset (and The Wurzels) while cider and cake is served. After the revelry three or four villagers load their guns and fire off several volleys to drive away any remaining spirits.When the evil spirits have finally been driven off, torches are lit and a procession through the village ensues, with much merriment, to the Foresters Arms where Pat, the friendly landlady, provides ale and cider and local musicians play on into the night. A great night is enjoyed by  everyone which these days includes people from around the country.		St Georges Street, Dunster  17 January 2024, 7.30pm		Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066540728146
Carhampton Community Orchard, Carhampton		Carhampton Community Orchard, Carhampton January 17 at 6:30pm		Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarhamptonCommunityOrchard/
The Sheppy’s Cider Wassail,  Join us for an evening of chanting, dancing and tradition to help us ensure that next year’s harvest is a good one. Wassail gets its name from an old English term “waes hael” meaning “be well” which was shouted like a toast with the reply “drinc hael” meaning “drink and be healthy” at festivities in the darkest days of January as far back as Saxon times. There are several types of Wassailing tradition (most involving hot spiced alcohol) but the important one for all cider-makers is blessing their apple trees. 5:30 pm Gates Open 5:45 pm Food starts (closes 8.15 pm) 6:15 pm Last admission for cars 6:45 pm Ceremony begins 8:00 pm Folk dancing and drinking 10:00 pm Event ends		Sheppy's Cider Farm Three Bridges Bradford on Tone Taunton Somerset TA41ER 26 January 2024, 5.30pm-10pm How much? £15		Telephone: 01823 461233 Email: sarahr@sheppyscider.com Website: sheppyscider.com/
Community Orchard, Chard  The event, presented by Chard Town Council and Chard Museum, will take place on Sunday, January 14 at the community orchard which can be accessed through the museum. The event will start at 5.30pm and will feature by Chard’s Town Crier, guest musicians, and Morris dancing from the Enigma group. Refreshments will also be available.		Sunday, January 14 at 5:30pm		Website https://www.chardmuseum.co.uk/events/wassail-2024---14th-january-2024
Jubilee Wood Wassail After 2023’s successful event we are delighted to once again host the Jubilee Wood Wassail in 2024 on Saturday 20th January. Join us at 6.15pm for free spicy mulled cider and apple juice, generously provided by the Lord Poulett Arms. At 6.30pm there will be a procession, led by the Lord of Misrule and Lyme Morris, along a candlelit path to the centre of the wood and the guardian apple tree. Here we will be entertained by the Lyme Morris and rousing wassail songs. The Lord of Misrule will close the ceremony by presentation of cider and toast to the guardian tree, followed by a cacophony of sound to frighten the devil away and ensure a good apple harvest. Cash donations always welcome!		Jubilee Wood Wassail, Hinton St. George, TA17 8SE   20th January 2024 6,15-9pm		Website: https://hintonstgeorge.org.uk/groups/jubilee-woods/
Yeovil Country Park Join the us on the 15th of February for the Penn Hill Lantern Parade and Wassail! Let’s liven up the wintery park with glowing lanterns, beating drums, marshmallow-melting fires, and ghost-scaring ceremonies! No need to book, just turn up on the day and enjoy! Creative workshops, 14:00 onwards •             Drumming workshop •             Marshmallow toasting •             Charcoal making •             Apple printing 💡 Lantern Parade, 16:30-17:30 Create and bring along your own lantern and light up the darkening park, in a lantern parade led by the drumming workshop! Wassail Ceremony, 17:30-18:30 Drive all evil spirits away from the Community Orchard, and sing songs of celebration to the oldest apple tree in the park!		Yeovil Country Par, Penn Hill, Yeovil 15 February 2024 2pm-6.30 pm		Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YEOVILCOUNTRYPARK/?locale=en_GB