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Public Event: Wassail Celebrations
January 17, 2016 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm UTC+0
Join friends, family and neighbours! Sea Cider invites you to toast the orchard for a bountiful harvest next season with hot cider cocktails, swedish candles, song and celebration. Contribute to creating hope for harvest bounty and a prosperous New Year by adding a wish or blessing to the Wassail Wish Tree.
The Wassail is a centuries old English tradition practiced in cider making regions. Intended to awaken the orchard from it’s winter slumber, the trees are blessed to encourage an abundant harvest. Cider is poured over the roots of one of the orchard trees, and toast is hung in the branches by a Wassail “King” and “Queen” while traditional songs are sung with much noisemaking and merriment to ward off bad spirits.
Complimentary samples of Sea Cider’s own hot mulled cider will be paired with period inspired food. There will be cidery tours throughout the day.
This is a free community event with good fun and great food. Come raise a glass!
Entertainment throughout the day by Island Thyme Morris Dancers performing a traditional longsword dance, and Quicksbottom Morris Dancers performing a mid-winter Mummers play.
The Blessing of the Orchard & Community Wish Tree will be at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
Wassail: a contraction of the Anglo Saxon term wæs hæil, meaning “Be healthy”.
**This an indoor event but please dress warmly as portions of the cidery tour are outside.**