Wassail!

Old apple tree, we wassail thee

We started wassailing our apples trees around fifteen years ago. My family on one side originate from the west country (of the UK) and I have always had an affinity with apple trees - so therefore it stands to reason that we observe the traditions of owning and protecting the orchard and her harvest.

The idea is to drive out bad spirits which might damage or destroy the precious crop of apples, this is done by making as much noise as possible - shouting, drumming and even shooting to drive the devil out. The tree is then serenaded with traditional songs such as the following:

Old apple tree, we wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear:
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
Till apples come another year.
To bloom well, and to bear well,
So merry let us be:
Let every man take off his hat,
And shout to the old apple tree:
Old apple tree, we wassail thee,
And hoping thou wilt bear,
Hatfuls, capfuls and three bushel bagfulls
And a little heap under the stairs.

Afterwards it is traditional to offer the spirit of the orchard, (represented by the oldest apple tree,) sometimes known as the apple tree man, in Somerset, a libation. We tend to go for mulled cider, which is poured around the base of the tree, and/or bread or toast is soaked in it and hung from the branches.

The popularity of wassailing has grown substantially since Lock Down, with many commercial cider producers now embracing this old custom, including Thatchers and Westons, as well as many smaller more traditional producers. I have been fortunate to attend the event at the Somerset Rural Life centre, in Glastonbury,

which also includes a good old knees up barn dance into the small hours in the ancient barn.

Wassailing has always offered something to break up the seemingly never ending winter months of January and February, when darkness rules and everything is dead. After the celebrations around yuletide are but a distant memory, we are reminded that light will return, we will again feel the sun on our faces, and our orchards will be full - provided the apple tree man is satisfied with our offering, that is!