Apple Tree Wassailing, The Experience

As I stated in an earlier post about Apple Wassailing, the tradition (as recorded by history) began in the 1500's in Southern England. Apple Wassailing traditionally takes place on January 17th (the old 12th Night of Christmas), in which family and friends chant and sing to their apple trees to help ensure a healthy crop for next year. To be honest, traditions like these were to help bring people together and celebrate. What else are you going to do in the middle of a freezing January night?

Here are some pictures on the way to my mother in law's house. Amy and I had to sit in the back of Andrea's Jeep. We laughed all the way.

Once we got to my mother in law's house around 6:30PM, we gathered in her log room and chatted a bit over hot apple cider,we made on her farm last Labor Day weekend. Susie (my MIL) used the organic mulling spices I gave her as a Christmas present, in the cider. It was delicious!

After chatting for a few moments, it was time to pick the Wassailing King and Queen. We read Robert Herrick's Poem, which describes how the king and queen are picked. We all chose an applesauce muffin from the his/her platter. And then carefully picked through the muffin looking for the green pea that would designate the queen and the bean that would designate the king.

Amy was the first one to find the queen's pea and then shortly afterwards the king was picked - my nephew Jared found his bean.

And then we chatted and laughed some more.

The King and Queen's duties were to pass out chants to those picked to read and the song sheets. Odie was picked to pour a little bit of apple cider in each person's cup.

First, we started out with the chants.

As the chants were read, a few people at a time would toss their apple cider on the tree. Kids went first!

After a few chants were read, we all gathered to sing a wassailing song. It was cold so, we only sang 3 verses at a time.

We visited 3 more houses - my brother in law's, a friend named Sherry (whose house was full of furniture from the early 1900's, she had bought in Italy-it was beautiful), and one of my best friend's Andrea. At each house, we went inside and laughed and talked some more. There was no shortage of jovality.

Andrea's house was the last stop. She had beef stew brewing in the crockpot all day, so when we walked in we all dove right for it. Andrea looks like a ray of sunshine.

After we Wassailed Andrea's very large apple tree, we went back inside and popped open a few hard ciders and wine. And enjoyed folktale singing by my mother in law...

...and Celtic and Folktale singing by Amy and Andrea, backed with Odie's guitar and banjo.

And of course, next year's Apple Tree Wassailing is already in the works!