Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17

Subject: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 07:55 AM

The most traditional and important date for wassailing is old twelfth night. that is to say 12th night before the bureaucrats changed the calendar on the real people! That date is january 17 and it doesnt change from year to year.

the date has its advantages the biggest of which is that most people will have finished up their social obligations and will be most likely to attend also it is an opportunity to focus on a date that is important should earlier activities be canceled so a second chance perhaps.

My feeling is that it is an extra opportunity!

another thing and this applies to both twelfth nights. Mummers plays and wassailing start as early as the first of advent. They can occur at any time from then to old twelfth and take many forms (I think thus far I have identified some thrity forms of wassail) for twelfth night there are a limted number of forms with of course the masque related wassail in the hall, role reversal boars head etc....

so if you choose one of the twelfth nights for wassailing try to look up the relevant rituals perhaps.....lots of documentation on this

Unfortunately old twelfth comes at the early days of USA football playoffs. I will not have game coverage at a folk event- sorry its only once a year and games can be recorded. One must have folk priorities.

it takes real people to wassail- but anyone can be a sports fan.
and what team do you know that gives out free food and drink and has bonfires in the stands! case closed.

Enjoy your wassail

All are welcome to our jolly wassail in Baltimore Saturday 15th. Google Baltimore Wassail and check the blog or check out the baltimore wassail facebook group RSVP essential
or contact us direct [e-mail]

Wassail
Conrad

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: Spongebrother
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:18 PM

We are having ours tomorrow (suppose it's now today as we are past midnight in Greenwich Mean Time)

Seeing your quote "it takes real people to wassail- but anyone can be a sports fan" makes me feel happier about missing my football(no doubt that's "soccer" to you) match

Wassail and have a good one

Pete

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 12:06 PM

It is Twelfth Night on 17 January for those who don't accept the Gregorian calendar - OR IS IT?

If you don't accept the Gregorian calendar, you surely shouldn't accept the lack of a leapyear in 1800 and 1900, so, by now, Twelfth Night will have slipped to 19 January.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: Cats
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 04:08 PM

we still Wassail in our hamlet and we did it last saturday night. we walked to the bottom orchard and wassailed that then walked back to my cottage and wassailed my trees then back inside to eat the wassail feast, singing, music and.. the local mummers play. we know that one was performed here in 1733, the Reeves accounts say 4 3/4d for the mummers.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 17 Jan 11 - 04:17 PM

Well I must start planning a wassail for next year then. We have four apple trees and plenty of space for processing dancing and even sampling cider.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: Old Vermin
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 03:10 PM

Ah, well, Conrad, I my bit of England we wassailed on January 6th. Good stuff, cider.

Wassail anyway.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Old Twelfth Night- the wassail Jan. 17
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 03:29 PM

Well I think I'll have some more cider tomorrow anyway to be on the safe side.