Wassailing has ancient roots in Britain, but in the 21st century it’s fun to learn about this tradition and create our own version of this old custom. Therefore on Saturday 31st of January we are holding our own Wassail in Rowntree Park.
We held our first Rowntree Park Wassail in 2023. We aren’t wassailing ‘experts’, or pagans, but we want to embrace some of this tradition, that is linked to celebrating nature, whilst having a good time with the local community and creating our own ‘traditions’!
Wassailing is all about celebrating apple trees and encouraging good future harvest. People go to the fruit trees to wish them health, make lots of noise, and give offerings in the form of food and drink. We have a 12 tree orchard in the Rowntree Park Wildlife Area – perfect for celebrating! We ‘pick and choose’ from traditions to create our own.
Details on our event below and more on ‘Wassailing’ in general below that – read on…
Wassail Family event on Saturday 31st January 1.30pm-3.30pm
You can book places on our children’s activities – aimed at families with children approximately 2-12 years old and will include the following lasting around 1 hour.
The story telling – the folktale of the Appleman, finding more about Wassailing and crafts to prepare for the main wassail that include:
–Creating noisemakers
-Making nature headbands/headwear to wear for the event.
-Creating our own ‘tree thanks’ and poems to say to the apple trees
We will then gather and be joined by some morris dancers who will perofrm for us – and pergaps you can join in! We will then lead a nosiy procession to the orchard in the park (not far) making a lot of noise – using our noise makers! At the orchard we will ‘wassail’. The wassail includes noise making and banging sticks on the ground – what’s not to like for children? We also give ‘offerings’ to the trees and you can try ‘Wassail’ drink
Costume, or touches of, are welcomed but Please dress for the weather and make sure you are warm! You are welcome to wear costume but most importantly, dress for the winter weather! More on this below.
Book places using the link below (ticket per child – adult/carer does not need a ticket). £5 FRP members and £7 non members. Places are limited. Book here
What is Wassailing
There are some different definitions of Wassailing, but the one we are talking about here is ‘orchard wassailing’. A Wassail is the process of waking the fruit trees from their winter slumber and warding off evil spirits to help make sure of a successful harvest later in the year. It’s also about starting to return to ‘normality’ after the dark midwinter period.
The Term Wassail’ is said to come from the old English ‘ves heil’ which is a toast to your good health (be healthy). Wassailing originated as a Pagan tradition, but has evolved. No two wassails are the same. All over England there is some variety and difference in the Wassails, but the general purpose remains the same.
(Pronounce: Woh-Sa-Ling)
Wassailing is an old twelfth night tradition. Twelfth night is either the 5th of January, or if going by the old Gregorian calendar – 17th of January. However, today, Wassails tend to be held throughout January/early February. Before industrial times, the festive period was different to what we celebrate now. Advent was a time of fasting, was observed from the 1st to the 24th of December. Christmas would then last 12 days, ending with feasting and revels on the 5th of January – with wassailing a key part of the celebrations.
A wassail typically includes a visit to an orchard/local fruit trees. Some of the following may take place:
- A procession to get there and lots of singing of Wassail songs/chants and noise making.
- The procession may be led by a Wassail king and queen and the commotion is created by banging pots and pans, as well as shouting/singing, whistles and anything that makes noise!
- Some people dress up – this sometimes includes a use of nature, but also some as spirits or other things (more on this below).
- A warm spiced cider drink is also involved (recipes vary) – usually carried in a Wassail bowl and later shared out.
- Once at the fruit trees, you start with the oldest tree. Surrounding the tree some ‘wake up’ chants may be said as well as some praise for the tree (some like to bow to the tree). The custom continues by using large sticks to beat the trunk and the ground around the tree – this is the process of awakening the tree. Then lots of noise making again!
- It may be that a small child is lifted to add an ‘offering’ to the tree such as bread or cheese. This is followed by pieces of toasted bread soaked in the wassail drink and then stuck on branches of the tree and left there.
- Some of the drink is then poured on the roots of the tree (and may be drunk by the people involved too!) The toast is thought to encourage ’good spirits’ such as Robins – basically the birds will be pretty happy!
- You can then go and make noise and offerings to the other trees in the orchard too, and then have a warm drink!
- In some places there is music, Morris dancing and bonfires too.
Costumes
Wassailing can involve a variety of costume. However, what is most important for our Wassail is that you are dressed for the weather and are nice and warm! No costume is expected, but if people wish to dress up or add a ‘touch’ to their outfit, please do!
A Twelfth night tradition is ‘mumming’ which usually means wearing outlandish costume made of rags or foliage usually. Mumming involved a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes within their community during the twelve days of Christmas. If welcomed into a house, they often did a variety of informal performances that may include dance, music, jokes, or recitations. The hosts had to guess who they were behind the costumes.
For our Wassail, you are welcome to opt to ‘dress up’. This could include a mediaeval look, elements of the green man, apple man, sun god or any other spirit (use of nature in costumes). Dress anything apple themed, or a robin, green face paint or even dress in a superhero costume – anything works!
Banners and flags
If we get time, we will make banners for the procession BUT it’s also something you may want to do at home before the event – maybe a flag of an apple or the word ‘Wassail’. It’s all lots of fun!
Further information
This is a fun low key community event organised by volunteers. The focus is on bringing people together, the sharing of a tradition, and also highlighting the orchard in our wildlife area of the park that our volunteers care for.
You are responsible for yourself, and children, during this event. As sticks are involved – please be aware of other people when waving or bashing! Our ‘Wassail drink’ will be non-alcoholic due to children being involved. You are welcome to bring your own flasks if you prefer to make your own Wassail drink! Please note that the park closes at 4pm in winter.
Children’s event – bring sticks, pans, a plastic bottle- and if possible a torch!
Other types of Wassailing
Another form the wassailing tradition took involved groups of revellers going from house to house to drink toasts and wish good health for the year ahead on the dwellers within. Indeed, the word ‘wassail’ is believed to be derived from the Old English ‘was hál’, meaning ‘be hale’ or ‘good health’.
Book onto our Children’s activities here
We also welcome suggestions and ideas for our wassail – be it this one or future ones. we want to create our own traditions – so if you have ideas and/or want to get involved then get in touch! hello@rowntreeparkorg.uk
