Sunday, february 23 | 1-7 pm
Wassail Celebration
A Community Gathering to Bless the Trees
As the days begin to lengthen and we prepare for the Spring, we invite you to visit the orchard and join us in a blessing of the trees. Let’s enjoy hearty food and drink, live music, and the warmth of a bonfire together.
Dress warmly! Bring a Lantern!
Weather & snow-cover permitting, you are welcome to come early to cross-country ski, snowshoe, or sled in our orchard.
Food and Drink Offerings:
- Hearty Chili and Soup
- Sweet and Savory Turnovers
- Donuts, Cookies and Pies
- Sweet Mulled Cider
- Wassail drink (contains alcohol)
The History of Wassail
Wassailing of the apple trees, originating in Southern England, is one of the oldest wassail traditions. The word "wassail" was originally used as a salutation or toast to good health, but has evolved to also describe a community gathering in fruit orchards with dancing, drinking and singing meant to awaken the trees, scare off evil spirits, and bless the trees for a good harvest the next season.
A wassail king and queen would lead a procession/song from apple orchard to apple orchard. Villagers would often form a circle around the largest apple tree while singing, toasting and making noise to scare off evil spirits.
The wassail drink (a spiced cider) was made and shared for this occasion, and the Wassail queen was lifted into the boughs of a tree to place wassail soaked toast (we use donuts!) as a gift to the birds (who were thought to represent the good spirits of the trees). In addition, cider was often poured on the roots of the trees.
