Today is the twelfth day of Xmas and Twelfth Night.

This time of the year is associated with wassailing.

The word “wassail” probably derives from the Old English: “hale you well” , ie be of good health.

Wassailing  comes in two versions:

Wassailing from house to house – a bit like carolling;  singing  to householders and receiving presents. The wassailing songs include words like:

Here we come a wassailing, among the leaves so green; Here we come a wandering, so fair to be seen; Now is winter time, we’ve travelled far and near; And we wish you, send you, a happy new year.

The other sort of wassail is in apple orchards like our small orchard at the bushcraft site, where locals would visit the trees early in the new year to sing to them and wake them up ready for a new year of growth and harvest. Making loud noises also scares evil spirits away and encourages the trees to bear great quantities of fruit.

These songs have words such as:

Here’s to thee old apple tree; That blooms well, bears well; Hats full, caps full; Three bushel bags full; And all under one tree.

I shall be wassailing my trees very soon as I prune them!

Cheers all

Huw