Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing

Subject: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: GUEST,guest:Ed Silberman
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 02:50 PM

How commonly is wassailing done these days?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: ripov
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 06:16 PM

There are a number of "wassails" advertised around Yule, sometimes just an excuse for music and beer (as if any were needed!) I'm not sure, though, if people still go into the orchards en masse to demonstrate to the trees how to go about getting new apples next year. Normally too cold outside for those used to central heating. For a few years The Brunel engine house at Rotherhithe has had a night with a ceremony (suitable for little ones) involving an apple tree and "folk" music (ie a low key English session),

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: Tradsinger
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 06:38 PM

In the UK in recent years, many modern wassails have been coined, on the model of the orchard wassail. I can think of at least half a dozen in Gloucestershire. These "new" wassails are usually in January and often involve Morris dancers, plus of course cider (alcoholic), beer and song. The fact that wassailing was often at Christmas time, not January, and was house-to-house, not orchard, is largely lost to sight. A few traditional groups, such as the Bodmin wassailers in Cornwall, still go house-to-house.

For a write up of this, see
http://www.gloschristmas.com/wassail/gloucestershire-wassail-3/

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: ripov
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 09:42 PM

Christmas in the old calendar was in January, still is, in some traditions. Don't the 12 days of Christmas start on new Christamas day and continue till the old one? (Jan 6th)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 10:10 PM

Quite a few events on Facebook though they might be, as ripov says, "an excuse for music and beer"
https://m.facebook.com/search/events/?ssid=b2a752604aaf453dfcfd171e6c2249b8&search_source=filter&q=Wassail&tsid

and a few here
http://calendarcustoms.com/january/ & a couple in the December listing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 06:17 AM

This one Stretton Mill Cheshire is a modern invention I think.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 01:23 PM

I used to have my own informal wassails in town and finishing off at home every weekend
until I reached 50 and had to start taking blood pressure tablets, water tablets and statins...

Besides which, in recent years most of my favourite pubs either stopped selling proper cider, were demolished for property development,
or burnt down [suspicious insurance job / evade planning permits ?.. - funnily enough the burnt out shell is to be replaced by luxury flats..]..

There are at least 3 cider makers within my territory, one definitely continues wassail as a marketing PR opportunity,
but public transport at night is virtually non existent.
So as much as I'd like a one off trad night to break my self imposed sobriety,
tough titties for me... 🍏 🍎 🍐

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: ripov
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 02:00 PM

Judging by the quotes in this Middle English Dictionary Wassail has much to do with ale or wine, and little to do with trees.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Modern Day Wassailing
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 02:25 PM

I can quite easily imagine how a mere few generations ago my ancestors got cidered up late at night in cold dark winter,
and started firing shotguns at imaginary terrors high up in the trees..

A tradition of strong rough cider and Psilocybin mushrooms... both plentiful in these parts, and a potent combination... 😬