Last night I attended my first ever Wassail! I was invited
by the organisers who run events for our community orchard, and I fully
intended to take part in the spirit of the occasion by borrowing my two year
old niece’s drum to awaken the spirits of the trees. We met in a nearby car
park then marched over to the green; banging our instruments as we went. On
arrival we were given hot mulled cider then gathered round the Wassail tree
where the town crier began proceedings. A hooded axe man representing the
council portrayed too accurately how the orchard should be cut down so that the
land could be used for housing. Then the farmer arrived; dressed as a giant
apple; forcing the fruit into the councillor’s mouth and a chase ensued where
the giant apple promptly fell over. We even sang ‘Juice-erulam’. It was a great
atmosphere and had a much better feel to it than singing Auld Lang Syne around
the coffee table on New Year’s Day. So drink ale and Wassail!
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