A centuries old tradition will be performed by Wellington Folk & Custom Society this evening (Saturday).
Their Wellington Wassail takes place at the Cottage Inn, Champford Lane, from 7.30pm.
Wassailing involves the blessing of fruit trees, drinking and singing to the health of the trees in the hope that they will provide a bountiful harvest in the autumn.
‘Wassail’ is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Waes Haeil’ meaning salutation/good health.
Lee Edmead from the society said: “Bring pots & pans, drums, whistles, bells, participate in scaring off the ‘Maulscrawl’ spirits, to enhance a good crop of Apples for later in the year.
“We will have Wassail singers of 2026, the song-keeper, Mistress & Master of Ceremony, Wise-maiden, Piper & Drummer, Modred the dragon, Bootstrap Border Morris team, the Wellington Traditional Folk Musicians and Mr Double Danger the 2nd.
“We will start at the Cottage Inn, then off to bless the apple trees, then return for further celebrations with the Bootstrap Border Morris team with their dancers and musicians.
“A a new addition this year is a ‘Mummers play’ and then we will continue into the night with traditional folk music tunes and songs in the pub.
“Happy New Year everyone and a jolly Wassail.”
