It was a cold, bleak, windy Sunday afternoon – and it was clear that the rain was keeping to its new year’s resolution to get out a lot more over the coming year.
We were damp and windswept – but not deterred! Wrapped in a multitude of different layers (a convenient way to disguise the recent excesses of Christmas), we converged in Tring to begin our Wassailing activities.
But, wait a moment, what exactly is Wassailing and why do we do it?
Wassailing is a traditional seasonal ritual that takes place in early January, during the coldest and darkest times of the year – which would have been a time of particular hardship for our ancestors.
Sometimes this would involve house-to-house visits in the local area, with revellers carrying an ornamental Wassail bowl filled with warm spiced cider or ale. The word ‘Wassail’ itself comes from the Old English toast “Waes Hael”, meaning “be well” or “good health”. Householders would often reward the songs and good wishes of the revellers with food, drink or gifts.
Alternatively, people would gather together in local orchards and give thanks to the apple trees, pouring a little cider over their roots as a thank you for last year’s crop, and placing toast in the branches as an offering to the tree spirits. This would frequently be accompanied by the banging of pots and pans, shouting and other loud noises to frighten away the evil spirits who were believed to harm the success of the harvest to come.
Our Wassail proceedings started at Tring’s Church Square with singing and dancing, with Jamie (one of our newest New Moon dancers) being awarded her ‘Dancer’ badge for her first dance-out. This was followed by the Wassailing of the nearby apple tree – I’m sure the tree was as grateful as I would have been if given spiced cider and toast by passing strangers. Our Wassail ceremony was conducted by Martin, our Green Man, ably assisted by two youngsters in the roles of Cider Elf and Toast Elf, wearing official ‘elf’ hats provided by Gemma.
Next stop was the Robin Hood pub. It was warm, dry and welcoming, so we were able to dry off a bit whilst we quenched our thirsts (Wassailing is thirsty work) and sang another Wassailing song to wish everyone well in the pub around us.
The Wassailing ceremony then continued at a local allotment for another lucky apple tree, before we stopped at Pound Meadow for more dancing. This time we also invited our onlookers to join us in dancing Shepherds Hey – an audience participation dance which really helped to warm everybody up.
From here we made our way to the Piggeries bar at Tring Brewery for yet more dancing and singing, before leaving for another nearby orchard for songs and music around the warmth of a bonfire with local friends, as the last of the light began to fade.
Big thanks from New Moon Morris to all those who joined the joyful proceedings today, and of course we hope that our Wassailing activities will ensure a successful harvest later this year!
Steve Thompson
Such a lovely celebration, full of colour and good cheer, and so great to have attracted such an audience on a rainy day! I’m sure Tring’s apple trees will have a bumper harvest this year