Wassail Party Saturday 28 January 2017

The calm starry evening came alive at 6pm as a procession of over 250 people carrying flaming torches wound its way from the Limpsfield British Legion across the golf course and through the woods into the Orchard.  By the light of the enormous bonfire Wassail Captain Andrew Claringbull addressed the “King” tree with the traditional wassail verse and offered up a libation of bread, salt and cider so that all the apple and pear trees might offer us a good harvest in their turn.  Shouts of  Huzzar and Waes Hael  were accompanied by a huge crescendo of drums,  whistles, tambourines and rattles from every side, thus driving away the evil spirits as the wassail bowl of steaming mulled cider was passed around.

This year for the first time the crowd was entertained by the The Chart Singers, led by Graham Dinnage. Everyone was encouraged to join in with the traditional Wassail song as well as “The Apple Grove”, the new words specially written for the Orchard and sung to the familiar tune of “The Ash Grove”.  After which most made for the hot mulled cider, hot dogs and apple cake, enjoying the warmth and glow from the bonfire. Gradually families started taking sleepy-eyed children home to bed, taking with them magical memories of an ancient tradition revived.

The wassail address

Stand fast twig, beat well top, God send ye a yowling crop

Every twig Apples big, Every bough Apples enow

Hats full, Caps full, Half bushel bags full

And a little heap under the stairs!

HUZZAR