January 2026 proved to be a busy month for local morris side; Moonshine Border Morris performing at four Wassail events.
The Wassail tradition of waking up and blessing apple and fruit trees for a bountiful harvest has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
Kicking their new year gigs calendar off in Dorking in Surrey, Moonshine joined a local side Boxhill Bedlam Morris, where a Druid ceremony oversaw the crowing of the wassail queen and a torchlit procession around a community orchard, before returning home to the Island to perform wassails in Northwood allotment and at Grow Gurnard’s inaugural wassail, in its traditional allotment as well newly planted field, and rounded off the event with a fire pit, mulled cider and cakes.
Grow Gurnard
Grow Gurnard is a small group of locals aspiring to create community farm near Gurnard meadow, with local families buying fruit trees to plant for future generations. You can find out more on their facebook page: Grow Gurnard.
Moonshines final wassail of the season was at Gift to Nature’s Merstone Station community orchard, which was organised by Wight Wassail.
Celebrating folk traditions
Each event included morris dancing, a procession where participants banged drums, sticks and pans to make noise to wake the trees, singing and a mass dance for everyone at the end.
Moonshine’s Squire, Sam Brookes, says,
“It’s wonderful to see communities coming together to celebrate nature.
“Wassailing is a great opportunity to brighten the winter months whilst celebrating folk traditions.”
Find out more
The Wight Wassail collective aims to encourage, record and support this tradition on the Isle of Wight for more information visit the website.
Moonshine Border Morris are currently preparing for a busy year of dance-outs, both locally and along the south coast at festivals and public events.
If you want Moonshine Border Morris at your event (early booking essential), email: [email protected]
You can also contact Wight Wassail, Grow Gurnard and Moonshine Border Morris on Facebook.
News shared by Tina on behalf of Moonshine Border Morris. Ed
