Wassailing
Wassailing is an age-old West Countrytradition to awaken the apple trees and scare evil spirits away to bring on aplentiful harvest.
It's still widely popular in thecider-producing counties of the West Country, including Devon, Cornwall,Dorset, Somerset and Herefordshire.
What is Wassailing?
There are two kinds of wassailing: Oneis similar to carol singing (and likely the Christmas tradition's origin) andthe other is orchard wassailing.
It is called wassailing, as this isthe customary toast made to fellow merrymakers and the apple trees.
The ceremony must be ancient, as"wassail" comes from an Anglo-Saxon dialect. The words "waeshael" mean "be well" or "good health" and are stillused today. Traditionally, wassailers respond with "drink hael "meaning ... well "drink well."
Though differing across the WestCountry, the orchard wassail generally involves a wassail King and Queenleading cider-sloshed revellers through local orchards in a clamorousprocession.
In each orchard, wassailers gatheraround the biggest or best tree, where they place cider-soaked toast in thebranches as gifts to the tree spirits. There will be much revelry,cider-drinking, singing of songs and toasting to each other's health and thatof the orchard.
After toasting the tree, the revellersmake as much noise as possible, banging pots, pans or even firing guns throughthe branches of the trees. Not only does this wake up the trees for the yearahead, but it also scares away bad spirits.
When does the West Country goa Wassailing?
Traditionally, orchard wassailingtakes place on the twelfth night, though there is some debate when this is!Some celebrate on the 5th of January, others insist it should be on "OldTwelvey" or the 17th of January. This was the 12th Night all the way up tothe introduction of the Gregorian Calendar.
If you're a cider drinker and drink itall of the time, what better way to honour your favourite tipple than byholding your own wassail.
The Best West Country Cidersto Wassail your Apple Trees
Traditionally, mulled cider is drunkon a wassail night. However, we haven't been to a wassail where this isn'tevery kind of cider under the sun. There's no better way to awaken the orchardthan revelling in its previous fruits. Here are some of our favourites for yourown wassail.
Waes hael and drink hael!
Extra Special Ciders
Celebrate your own wassail with aunique west country cider.
Wilding Cider - Ditcheat Hill 2020
Adelicate and well balanced, sweet but complexcider made from a special orchard in Ditcheat.
Burrow Hill Cider - Ice Cider
Made from frozen freshly-pressed apple juice, it's perfect for frosty winterevenings.
Bollhayes 2017
Cider made using the Champagne method - Need we say more?
Keeved Ciders
Go for a traditional cider fermentingprocess with a sweet, sparkling flavour.
Heck's Cider - Keeved Dunkertons Late Sweet
Drink the last of Heck's Cider apples to mark the start of the next cidermaking year.
Worley's Cider - Somerset Special Reserve Keeved
Only the finest heritage cider apples for a proper Somerset keeved cider.
Classic Keeved cider finished in Whisky Barrels- perfect for Wassail and Burns Night.
