Shenley Park

Wassailing

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Wassailing - an ancient practice of blessing Apple Orchards to ensure that there is a plentiful crop of wonderful apples the following year.

How?

Wassail comes from the Anglo Saxon greeting "wes hal" that means 'be whole' or 'be of good health'. To Wassail something or someone (such as bees, orchards or cattle) was to drink to their health. A large Wassail bowl, usually filled with a mixture of hot ale, sugar, spices and roast apples, was passed from person to person around the table at Christmas or passed from house to house to bring good luck to those who carried it and those who visited. This ancient rite has been adapted somewhat and incorporated into the 'event' now is a 'warding off of evil spirits that may be lurking in the orchard waiting to cause ill health to the trees and ruin the crop! 

So what do we do at Shenley Park?

We lead a procession, torch lit into the Orchard where upon we gather around a tree. We hold a short ceremony, then hang pieces of toast soaked in cider from the branches of the tree and pour cider around the base of the tree as a present to the tree!

Hanging toast on the tree - Wassailing

We then make lots of noise with drums, bells and anything else musical that people bring along to scare away the evil spirits! A special Wassail song is sung, some fireworks are let off to complete the ceremony and we then retire back to the Orchard Tea Room where we have soup and bread, cups of mulled wine and mulled cider. We ask for a donation from people but are otherwise grateful as for the past years we have had a wonderful supply of apples since our Wassailing!

Wassailing the Orchard

Wassailing 2009 is on Saturday 3rd January at 6.30pm.

Meet at the Orchard Tea Room, come dressed in "old English Folk style clothing", bring a torch or lantern and something to make a noise with - such as a drum, a saucepan!, bells - anything you like.

The event lasts a couple of hours.