Wassailing: An ancient tradition

Our traditional Wassail ceremony, takes place in North Wootton mid-January, and is used to ensure a good cider apple harvest for the following year. By blessing the cider apple trees and warding off unwanted spirits it is hoped a good harvest will follow. Instruments and noise are used to scare away the unwanted spirits. A Wassail Queen is chosen from the assembled crowd and a bonfire lit to ward off the evil spirits.

Entertainment and cider

After the bonfire and wassail ceremony there is entertainment in the Village Hall where Trevor Hoddinot plays traditional music, as well as the Langport Mummers and the Beetle Crusher Clog Dancers.

A ploughman’s supper is served and plenty of traditional cider available.

It is a fun evening that keeps a long standing rural tradition alive.