Apple Wassail facts for kids
The Apple Wassail is a fun, old tradition from southern England. It's a special ceremony held in cider orchards during the winter. People perform the wassail to "bless" the apple trees. They hope this will help the trees grow lots of apples for the next season.
This tradition has been around for a very long time. The first time it was written down was in 1585 in a place called Fordwich, Kent. Back then, groups of young men would go from one orchard to another. They would perform the wassail ceremony and get a reward. Sometimes, people even called this practice "howling."
On Twelfth Night, which is January 5th or 6th, people would go into the apple orchards with a special wassail bowl. They would place pieces of bread or toast at the roots of the trees. Sometimes, they even tied toast to the branches! They also poured cider over the tree roots. This was all part of the blessing ceremony.
Some of the most famous wassail ceremonies still happen today. You can find them in places like Whimple, Devon, and Carhampton, Somerset. These events usually take place on January 17th.
Many new wassail events are also starting up. These "revival" wassails combine old traditions with new fun. For example, in Clevedon, north Somerset, they have an annual wassail. It mixes the traditional ceremony with music and entertainment from the Bristol Morris Men.
The Apple Tree Man Story
There's a cool old folktale from Somerset about this custom. It tells about the Apple Tree Man. This is believed to be the spirit of the oldest apple tree in an orchard. People thought the health of the whole orchard depended on him.
In the story, a man gives his last mug of warm, spiced cider to the trees in his orchard. The Apple Tree Man rewards him by showing him where some gold is buried!
Traditional Apple Wassail Songs
People often sing special songs or rhymes during the Apple Wassail. These songs are like prayers or wishes for a good apple harvest. Here are a few examples:
Here's to thee, old apple tree,
Whence thou mayst bud
And whence thou mayst blow!
And whence thou mayst bear apples enow!
Hats full! Caps full!
Bushel—bushel—sacks full,
And my pockets full too! Huzza!—South Hams of Devon, 1871
Stand fast root, bear well top
Pray the God send us a howling good crop.
Every twig, apples big.
Every bough, apples now.—19th century Sussex, Surrey
Here we come a wassailing
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wandering
So fair to be seen.
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.—Somerset, 1871
