Hi Jo, reading this, a while after the date, connected me to the wassailing tradition in the Cambridgeshire village we lived in for a time - such fun! A group of singers (us included) would tour the village, singing at wassailing parties in exchange for drinks and nibbles. And then everyone would meet in the community orchard to sing to the apple trees, shout, bang pots and pans and, finally pour apple juice onto the tree roots. We have wassailed the two apple trees in our new garden in rural Wales but miss the community tradition. Maybe next year we will find some neighbours who would like to join in 🙂 Penn x
Thank you, Jo! This is so lovely to know about. We are in the heat of summer here in Australia, many suffering from fires and floods. But I will save your post and sing to the trees at the end of winter. Such ceremony singing of hope and blessing is much needed now. I loved this post!
Hi Barbara, thank you, and I hope you are safe from fire and floods. It's lovely thinking that you'll be singing your own blessing to your trees in a few months. I hope the ritual brings you joy and an abundant harvest :-)
What a delight this is! I can sing along the songs from knowing all the tunes, and I have a grand old apple tree out in my Napa Valley garden, but other than that, I’m ignorant of these rituals and blessings. I may now go hang a piece of toast…dipped in Sonoma Valley Apple Cider Vinegar which I watched being processed at a local factory. Other than that I look forward to my Gravenstein apples and wish you the best in whatever apples you grow!
Hi Bonnie, thank you :-) It's so great to think of you singing along. The best thing about these rituals is that you can create whatever you want out of them and take/leave whatever you like. It's lovely to know about your Sonoma Valley apple cider vinegar, and I'm sure your majestic tree will be happy with the extra love!
Hi Jo, reading this, a while after the date, connected me to the wassailing tradition in the Cambridgeshire village we lived in for a time - such fun! A group of singers (us included) would tour the village, singing at wassailing parties in exchange for drinks and nibbles. And then everyone would meet in the community orchard to sing to the apple trees, shout, bang pots and pans and, finally pour apple juice onto the tree roots. We have wassailed the two apple trees in our new garden in rural Wales but miss the community tradition. Maybe next year we will find some neighbours who would like to join in 🙂 Penn x
Fascinating Jo! I have never heard of apple wassailing. Only dooking for apples on halloween. I love the toast tree ceremony idea.
Thanks Catriona! It’s good fun, but most of all it’s a nice way to feel connected to the natural world and the food we eat.
Thank you, Jo! This is so lovely to know about. We are in the heat of summer here in Australia, many suffering from fires and floods. But I will save your post and sing to the trees at the end of winter. Such ceremony singing of hope and blessing is much needed now. I loved this post!
Hi Barbara, thank you, and I hope you are safe from fire and floods. It's lovely thinking that you'll be singing your own blessing to your trees in a few months. I hope the ritual brings you joy and an abundant harvest :-)
What a delight this is! I can sing along the songs from knowing all the tunes, and I have a grand old apple tree out in my Napa Valley garden, but other than that, I’m ignorant of these rituals and blessings. I may now go hang a piece of toast…dipped in Sonoma Valley Apple Cider Vinegar which I watched being processed at a local factory. Other than that I look forward to my Gravenstein apples and wish you the best in whatever apples you grow!
Hi Bonnie, thank you :-) It's so great to think of you singing along. The best thing about these rituals is that you can create whatever you want out of them and take/leave whatever you like. It's lovely to know about your Sonoma Valley apple cider vinegar, and I'm sure your majestic tree will be happy with the extra love!