Westbury-sub-Mendip

Wassailing 2006

WASSAILING WITH THE FRIENDLY SOCIETY

Saturday 14 January 2006

John Barkle

Wassail King & Queen

Mulled cider

Singers

Mummers 

The Friendly Society’s Annual Wassailing night was held in the orchards of the village on Saturday January 14^th this year.  A crowd of 90 people participated in this traditional event on a perfectly clear moonlit night, starting at Old Ditch Farm, courtesy of Buffy & Mick Fletcher, and ably assisted by Sue Isherwood and Barry Lane . Welcoming drinks of hot mulled cider or apple juice were served to get the evening off to a good start whilst Malcolm Mogford and his songsters led the singing of the Wassailing song,  adapted for our village by Sue Caola.

Then followed the crowning of the Wassailing King and Queen who, for this year will be Louise and John Mackay,  by coincidence married to each other for real!

The master of ceremonies was our own, our very own John Barkle who, dressed in an original country yokel’s smock, led us around the orchards to oversee the hanging of cider soaked toast in the trees and the pouring of last year’s cider around the roots  to encourage a good harvest in the autumn. The  rifle shooting of evil spirits from the trees was performed by Edwin Phelps and Peter Laws. 

Five orchards later, everyone returned to Old Ditch Farm  for the ceremonial burning of the ash faggot, lit from embers from last year's fire.

The evening was rounded off with a  mummers play, and a supper of soup, sausages and cheese.

Back at home farm  The  Langport Mummers entertained us to their version of The Old Twelfth Night play. The various characters were  colourfully costumed and so well disguised I doubt their own mothers would have known them.

This delightful performance was followed by supper served in various locations around the farmyard and in the cosy farmhouse.  On offer were  pork & apple hot dogs, a choice of delicious soups, English cheeses and huge amounts of superb apple cake. Whilst supper was being consumed three Ashen Faggots were lit and everyone was asked to make a wish around the glow from the fire.  A dead ember from this year’s fire will be used to start the 2007 faggot fire when I’m certain everyone will gather again to enjoy another Wassail. 

J.F.

The Friendly Society is grateful to Mick and Buffy Fletcher for hosting the event, co-organisers Barry Lane and Sue Isherwood, John Barkle for being master of ceremonies, accordianist Malcolm Mogford and everyone who prepared food, mulled cider and helped with everything else that had to be done to make this such an enjoyable evening.