Dartmoor Border Morris returns to the Great Barn for a traditional Mummers’ play, acted out by a dozen merry actors telling the traditional story of good overcoming evil in the form of Sir Francis Drake and his nemesis, King Philip of Spain. Helping Sir Francis is of course a good doctor, Queen Elizabeth I, Mother Dolly and an old nag called Chatterley who likes to leave little presents all over the stage. This short play is suitable for all ages and starts at approx. 1pm. Much morris dancing ensues in the courtyard followed by the wassail in the Great Orchard. Normal entry fees apply.
The Wassail
A bountiful apple harvest has been a priority for many farmers since Viking times. Agricultural labourers were often paid with cider - around 2 litres for a day’s work - and good cider would attract better workers. So, in early January, local communities gathered in the orchards to serenade the apple trees as they were budding, with singing, music-making and dancing. Many would also go from house to house wishing good health to the residents by offering them a drink. These traditions of wassailing - from the Old English greeting of “Waes hael”, or Good Health to All – have special tunes for the occasion which are sung with the greatest gusto that everyone gathered can muster. One such tune is The Gloucestershire Wassail, brought into the modern day by Blur who made a recording of it in 1992.
A widespread revival of the traditions of wassailing has happened in recent years in cider-making areas of England, including, of course, the West Country. A Wassail King or Queen in full regalia leads everyone in a procession to certain trees in the orchard. The trees are thanked for the harvest past, and blessed for the harvest of the coming summer. Last year’s cider is poured over the roots with a chorus and singing of “Waes hael” with a resounding reply of “Drinc Hael”. Kitchen pots, pans and other objects are beaten, and a shotgun often fired, to make the loudest sound possible. This commotion aims to frighten away the evil spirits and awaken the spirit of the trees from their slumber for a new year of blossom, fruit and harvest. Pieces of toast are placed in the tree for the local robins, guardians of the orchard – and as a decoy from the young buds on the trees. The fellowship of the event is celebrated with warm spiced cider from the wassail bowl passed around for everyone to take a sip. This is then followed with more singing and dancing, often with local Morris dancers and musicians. And so, the new season’s cider is born.
Wassailing is a unique opportunity for people to get to know each other with enjoyment and merriment during the darkest time of the year, after Christmas has been and gone. For many, it carries a sense of purpose and meaning rooted in local history. Since the events of the past few years, many of all ages are hungry for occasions where they can get together and enjoy some levity in contrast to the gravity that many experience in their routine lives. The fast-growing popularity of wassailing is reflected in the parallel revival of Morris dancing, which has long been associated with wassailing and our other traditions here in the West Country.
If you are intrigued and tempted by the idea of joining in, then check out one of the many wassail events happening near you.
One of the most often used wassail songs:
Old apple tree we wassail thee And hope that thou shalt bear
For the Lord doth know
Where we shall be
Come apples another year.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
Old apple tree, we worship thee,
And hope that thou will bear
Hatfuls, capfuls, and three bushel bagfuls
A little heap under the stairs.
Three cheers for the apple tree:
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Folk & Traditional Song Lyrics - Apple Tree Wassail (traditionalmusic.co.uk)
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