The wonderful and weird wassail - drink up ye zider!

WITH its roots in an ancient Pagan tradition, the custom of wassailing is thriving once again throughout the South West region and Somerset in particular.

On the official wassail night, January 17, which is the original “Twelfth Night” of the Julian Calendar, the Shepton Mallet Cider Mill hosted its annual wassailing ceremony for its growers, customers and suppliers in its own award-winning Stewley Orchard near Ilminster.

The aim of the wassail is to awaken the cider apple trees, scare away evil spirits and ensure a bountiful harvest of fruit in the Autumn.

The Stewley Master of Ceremonies, from Taunton Deane Morris Men, led the proceedings.

Remaining faithful to the traditions, the evening’s ceremony saw the Wassail Queen, Lucy Carter, crowned with a wreath of berries, dip toast in mulled cider and place it in the branches of the tree to attract robins, the embodiment of good spirits bringing fertility to the orchard.

The cider was then poured onto the roots of the chosen tree to call for a good harvest.

The assembled crowd were instructed to make as much noise as possible - banging sticks and playing instruments to scare away evil spirits.

A volley of gunfire was sent into the branches of the tree for good measure and singing of the Wassail Carol completed the ceremony.

The following feast plays an important part of the celebration:  it is the last big meal before Plough Sunday, which historically signalled the beginning of the year’s work on the land.

Keeping to this tradition, guests at the Stewley Orchard wassail were provided with a fantastic spread including hog roast and a winter BBQ, whilst enjoying a range of ciders from the Cider Mill, from Blackthorn to Gaymers Orchard Reserve.

PHOTO: Wassail Queen, Lucy Carter, is held aloft during the wassailing ceremony at Stewley Orchard near Ilminster.

This was the seventh annual wassail held by Shepton Mallet Cider Mill. How far the tradition dates back is unknown, but the word wassail comes from the Old English greeting ‘waes hael’ – ‘be healthy’ or ‘your good health’ – which pre-dates the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The wassail ceremony may vary from region to region, but common theme runs through them all – to awaken the apple trees from their winter slumber, protect them from evil spirits and ensure a plentiful crop.

Bob Chaplin, fruit and orcharding manager at Shepton Mallet Cider Mill, said: ‘’Wassailing is a key part of our cultural heritage in the South West and reflects the traditional importance of cider and apple growing to our region.

‘’We are hugely proud to play a part in keeping this ancient custom alive.’’

Shepton Mallet Cider Mill greatly values its cider-making heritage in Somerset. Its brands include the West Country’s favourite, Blackthorn, along with Gaymers and Addlestones.

Recognised as a benchmark for good orchard management, Stewley Orchard is the perfect setting for the ancient wassail ceremony.

Beautifully maintained trees take up 32 of the site’s 40 acres while the remainder is reserved as a sanctuary for wildlife.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE WASSAILING CEREMONY AT STEWLEY ORCHARD CAN BE FOUND ON THIS LINK: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2013/01/19/wassailing-with-shepton-mallet-cider-mill-jan-17-2013/

PHOTO: A volley of gunfire was shot to scare away evil spirits from the trees of Stewley Orchard near Ilminster.

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