The following account was written by Theodore Turner our Duke of Edinburgh Orchard
On the 20 January, 150 people flocked to the British Legion and the Community Orchard to take part in the annual Wassail. The moon was big and bright and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful night. We met at the British Legion where torches were lit. We took different instruments to make loud noises and wore brightly coloured clothes to scare away the evil spirits to ensure a good
harvest. Led by Andrew Claringbull, our Wassail Master, and encouraged by the North Downs Drummers, with glowing drums, we processed to theorchard. After singing the traditional songs around the blazing bonfire we headed to the king tree where the wassail princess offered the king tree an apple, bread and salt to make sure we got a good crop of apples. The bread to feed the birds, the apple to give back to the orchard and the salt for purification. The Wassail bowl was passed around and everyone took a sip of the cider. We then headed to the hot dogs, mulled cider and apple cakes (which disappeared immediately). The remaining people gathered round the fire to get the remaining warmth from it, sparks and embers floating up to the brilliant moon.
I have been coming to the wassail for a while now and this was one of the most pleasurable evening yet, probably because I gave something back to the community as I am doing my DofE volunteering at the orchard. I remember digging out the concrete right at the beginning. It is wonderful to see the orchard now.
Volunteer
On the 20 January, 150 people flocked to the British Legion and the Community Orchard to take part in the annual Wassail. The moon was big and bright and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful night. We met at the British Legion where torches were lit. We took different instruments to make loud noises and wore brightly coloured clothes to scare away the evil spirits to ensure a good
harvest. Led by Andrew Claringbull, our Wassail Master, and encouraged by the North Downs Drummers, with glowing drums, we processed to theorchard. After singing the traditional songs around the blazing bonfire we headed to the king tree where the wassail princess offered the king tree an apple, bread and salt to make sure we got a good crop of apples. The bread to feed the birds, the apple to give back to the orchard and the salt for purification. The Wassail bowl was passed around and everyone took a sip of the cider. We then headed to the hot dogs, mulled cider and apple cakes (which disappeared immediately). The remaining people gathered round the fire to get the remaining warmth from it, sparks and embers floating up to the brilliant moon.
I have been coming to the wassail for a while now and this was one of the most pleasurable evening yet, probably because I gave something back to the community as I am doing my DofE volunteering at the orchard. I remember digging out the concrete right at the beginning. It is wonderful to see the orchard now.
In the words of the traditional song;
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too;
And God bless you and send you
A Happy New Year.
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