Wassail

A wassail is a Twelfth Night tradition with pagan roots which has been practised in Britain for centuries. The purpose is to encourage the spirits into granting a good harvest in the orchard in the year to come. It takes place in the weeks after Christmas and involves visiting an orchard for singing, dancing, drinking and general merrymaking.

Revellers visit the fruit trees, sing traditional songs, dance and make a hullabaloo (yep, that’s a real thing) by banging pots and pans. They crown an apple queen, drink cider and pour some on the ground as a blessing, as well as tying toast on trees to usher in the good spirits.

We hold one every year at Platt Fields Market Garden! This year it was held on the 18th January and was lots of fun. Photos below taken by the amazing Atticus of @themossyard.

This years wassail also included lantern making with Mez of @madsustainabledesign and a fire cider making demo by Caroline of @carolinedaniel.herbalist.

Keep an eye on our socials and website next winter to find out when next years wassail will be. The more the merrier to ensure a good harvest, and we’d love you to join.

There are many wassailing songs and they vary from region to region. Here’s one of the most well known, titled ‘Here We Come A-wassailing’:

1. Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
here we come a-wand'ring
so fair to be seen.

Refrain:
Love and joy come to you,
and to you your wassail too;
and God bless you and send you a happy New Year,
and God send you a happy New Year.

2. Our wassail cup is made
of the rosemary tree,
and so is your beer
of the best barley.
Refrain

3. We are not daily beggars
that beg from door to door;
but we are neighbours' children,
whom you have seen before.
Refrain

4. Call up the butler of this house,
put on his golden ring.
Let him bring us up a glass of beer,
and better we shall sing.
Refrain

5. We have got a little purse
of stretching leather skin;
we want a little of your money
to line it well within.
Refrain

6. Bring us out a table
and spread it with a cloth;
bring us out a mouldy cheese,
and some of your Christmas loaf.
Refrain

7. God bless the master of this house
likewise the mistress too,
and all the little children
that round the table go.
Refrain

8. Good master and good mistress,
while you're sitting by the fire,
pray think of us poor children
who are wandering in the mire.
Refrain