Blast away the February blues by getting together to celebrate the orchards that provide us with tasty fruit.

What is a Wassail?

The ancient English tradition of Wassailing involves drinking hot apple juice or mulled cider, food, songs, and ‘blessing’ the trees in the hope of a good harvest.

Wassailing has been going on for donkey's years, with the first recorded mention being in 1585 in Kent.

People would go about the orchards, pouring cider on the roots of the trees and hanging bits of toast in the branches as an offering to the birds.

Then they would make noise, singing, and banging pots and pans together to scare away any ‘bad spirits’ in the orchard.

It may all sound a bit strange, but we hope our Wassail will be a fun and lively nod to this ancient tradition, and a chance to get together for some mischief in the gloom of February.

What to expect

Kids very welcome!

What to bring

This event will be entirely outside, so you’ll want to be dressed in warm clothing and footwear suitable for the outdoors and uneven ground.

Wassailing outfits are very much encouraged! Here are some photos for inspiration.

Bring a pot and a wooden spoon (or anything else you fancy) to make some noise with!

Contact number

Please call 07873157076 if you can't find where to go on the day.

Accessibility

There are toilets at Shine.

There will be loud noises.