3 January 2017

Wassail 201


Did you go to Wassail this year? - it  was excellent, full of all the old traditions and festivities.  Paul estimated that there were about 230 people at the start of the celebrations, significantly more than last year.

The weather was perfect, the dancers Armaleggan were as impressive as ever, the musicians and singers provided the good cheer, our Master of Ceremonies did a splendid job and this year we had two guns to drive away the evil spirits. This year the evil count in the mummers play wore a hard hat and brandished a spade, much to the crowd's delight when he was defeated by the valiant king.

We also had two unusual guests - a mare and a hare; the hare made the fantastic costumes. I'm not sure who they were!

The fireworks were a fantastic end to our wassailing.

Our master of ceremonies at the start of the procession


The two guns who will drive away the evil spirits from the orchard

Musicians for good cheer and the Wassail song

The mare and the hare


Armaleggan

Full dressing up

Wake up! Wake up!

All the trees are visited and told to wake up for the new spring


The crowds and the mare

Armaleggan dancers

The mare

and the hare

Fine musicians

Wassailing the village orchard

By torchlight as the day fades