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At
four degrees below zero, this year's wassail was a bitterly
cold affair until the moment the twelve bonfires were lit
around the oldest apple tree in the Broome
Farm orchard. It was also an extremely well attended
and very enjoyable event.
Mulled
cider and a noisy torchlight parade around the cider farm
preceded the wassail ceremony itself. The wassaillers were
given some cider to toast the tree before 'Tom Tit' (traditionally
the youngest members of the crowd), placed cider soaked
bread on its branches to make sure it bears fruit for this
year's cider. There were several young members actually
and they all took turn at being 'Tom'.
Local
folk singers, 'Compost Heap' performed the 'Gloucester Wassail
Song', a song which was actually collected in Herefordshire
before the ancient English tradition of making as much noise
as possible to ward off evil spirits began.
Being
no exception to the rule, this years ceremony then turned
into a cider party in the barn, at which 'Compost Heap'
performed more folk songs followed by 'Fiddle and Squeeze',
who provided the dance music.
Ross
Cider Wassail is always one of our favourite events
of the year and this year proved to be no exception. Only
the bitterly cold weather eventually caused us to head for
home.
Film
from this year's event will be available on this coming
Wednesday's WNTV programme.
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