January can only mean one thing in Somerset… Wassail!
No idea what a Wassail is? We’ll share the (not so) secret!
A wassail is a traditional ceremony to encourage new growth and a good harvest of the apple trees that produce our wonderful cider apples.
The word “wassail” is an Anglo-Saxon greeting meaning ‘good health’. Wassail is also the name of a hot cider mulled with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. It was a drink designed for sharing out of a large ‘wassailing bowl’. The large bowl had many handles so that many hands could hold onto it.
During the month of January, you will find many Wassailing ceremonies taking place here in Somerset. They are usually community events held in community orchards or are held in local cider maker’s orchards or sometimes pubs.
Book your stay today and experience a wassail first hand.
What happens at a Wassail?
A Wassail Queen or King is chosen from the crowd. Pieces of cider soaked toast, are tied to branches of the trees in the orchard as an offering to the spirits. Cider is then poured over the roots of the apple trees to encourage a good harvest.
Traditional Wassail Songs are sung to the trees, and a wassail bowl full of hot cider is passed around all the participants to drink from. The wassailers are encouraged to make a lot of noise, banging drums & clashing sticks. The noise is said to scare off all the evil spirits in the orchard, thus ensuring a good harvest in the coming year.
Here are a few examples of songs sung at a wassail
Health to thee, good apple tree,
Well to bear pocket fulls, hat fulls,
Peck fulls, bushel bag fulls.
Hats full!
Caps full!
Bushel – bushel – sacks full
And my pockets full too! Huzza
Blowe, blowe, bear well,
Spring well in April,
Every sprig and every spray
Bear a bushel of apples against
Next New Year’s Day
Where Can I Join In?
There are various locations around Somerset where you can enjoy and take part in a ceremony, the list below shows previous events.
Saturday 17th January – North Cadbury Wassail at The Catash Inn, Nr Sparkford, 6pm.
Expect Morris Dancing, the Wassail Queen, Mummers Play, a Raffle and ceremony. Mulled cider available. Free Entry.
Bere Cider Company, Bere, Langport, – TBC
Rich’s Cider, Highbridge, – TBC
Ad Astra Cider, Axbridge – TBC
Sunday 18th January – Clarks Shoemakers Museum Orchard at The Grange, Clarks Village, Street. 2-4pm.
Friday 23rd January – Sheppy’s House of Cider, Taunton. 5.30-10pm.
With food, fire, dancing and cider. Ticketed Event.
It really is a fun night out and a great excuse to sample some local cider 🍺