OR A TRUE RELATION OF STRANGE PROCEEDINGS IN A SOMERSETSHIRE LOFT AND THE FIELDS ABOUNDING

Saturday, 10 January 2015

WES HAL!

I was at work today, but Mrs. Atticus took herself and the 3 lads down the road to the local community growers where she does a lot of work ensuring we get a constant supply of organic veg. and a freezerful of organic pork at Christmas. Today the team were Wassailing, planting new trees, thanking the old and generally having a knees up (sods law that I missed it)

Last years harvest is consumed.

A old re-enactment friend turned up to see what was going on, and then dashed home to get his musket to frighten off evil spirits that might be lurking in the orchard

The new trees are honoured with the Wassail Toast

The libation continues (the chap on the far left is my old music teacher and a druid!)

The old trees are thanked as well

A gathering of good people of all ages

Here we come a Wassailing 
among the leaves so green
Here we come a wandering so fair to be seen...

Posted by at
Labels: ,

8 comments:

  1. private w.10 January 2015 at 23:43

    Springinsfeld, it is posts like these that have me daydreaming about England! Glorious! Happy Wassailing, and here's to healthy crops and bountiful harvest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Springinsfeld11 January 2015 at 13:02

      Yep, it's not a bad old patch of land, Merlin's Isle of Gramarye and all that. Hopefully the oggie harvest will be plentiful so there's plenty of cider. (eclectic word of the day Oggie-meaning a cider apple).

      Delete
  2. Mad Padre11 January 2015 at 10:38

    A terrific post. Is this an old Somerset tradition or a new (age?) thing? I always thought of wassailing a Christmas festivity, but what do I know?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Springinsfeld11 January 2015 at 12:45

      Hi Padre. I believe this is a very old custom (earliest reference to it is in 1486 according to the Oxford Dictionary of Folklore I have handily here), and of course popular in Somerset with all it's orchards for cider making. I suspect you are better qualified than I for knowledge on Christmas festivities, but generally Wassailing takes place from Christmas through into the early new year. When I was re-enacting in the late 80's early 90's we used to go to a pub somewhere down in deepest Somerset and fire our muskets into the trees and drink copious amounts....so it's great to see it taking place again on my doorstep.

      Delete
  3. tradgardmastare11 January 2015 at 11:07

    Great post with super pictures.A pity you could not attend.I am interested to hear more about the community growers too.
    Alan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Springinsfeld11 January 2015 at 12:47

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Springinsfeld11 January 2015 at 12:49

      Thanks Alan, here is a link to the growers blog. Not very active, but gives you an idea.

      https://bathamptoncsa.wordpress.com/

      Delete
    3. tradgardmastare12 January 2015 at 11:39

      Really interesting link ,as is the CSA info on the Soil Association Website.Thanks for sharing it with us.
      Alan

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)