A new collective called Wight Wassail aims to encourage and support the tradition of Wassailing on the Isle of Wight.
They have created a website to share upcoming events and share resources on how to run your own. Two public wassails for this January are already listed.
What is an Apple or Orchard Wassail?
A ceremony to ensure a good harvest for the next year, especially for apples.
They wake the trees up from their winter sleep and drive away any evil spirits with noise, song, dance and a wassail drink.
Bread or cake and cider is offered to the tree, to make sure it is well fed and will produce abundant fruit.
They can be held in your own garden or public spaces. There are also growing numbers of Community Orchards on the island that are ideal places to hold them, bringing people together in these dark winter months to celebrate and look forward to spring growth.
Find out more
Wight Wassail have tips for running your own, big or small, on their new website.
They are also collecting stories about this tradition on the Island, including an Isle of Wight Wassail song.
If you have events you would like listed or history to share please contact them at [email protected].
News shared by Wight Wassail, in their own words. Ed
