Here We Come A-wassailing Totnes Office

18th January 2018

Here We Come A-wassailing Totnes Office

Wassailing is an ancient custom that falls into two distinct categories: the New Year

house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail.

 

Tim Jones, Manager of Marchand Petit’s Totnes office explained “In the cider-producing

counties in the South West of England wassailing is a traditional ceremony that

commonly takes place on old twelfth night. The purpose of wassailing is to wake up the

apple trees and scare away evil spirits that might be lurking, to ensure a good harvest of

fruit in the autumn.”

 

Adding “We are delighted to be one of the main sponsors again for the Stoke Gabriel

Wassail 2018, supporting the Friends of Stoke Gabriel Primary School on 20th January.”

The annual event, resurrected in the village 25 years ago, is organised by FOSS. Last

year hundreds of visitors, locals and children took part in the family event, which

included storytelling, a George and the Dragon play by the Bovey Tracey Mummers,

lantern-making workshops for the youngsters, a barbecue laid on by Scouts and the

wassailing torchlight processions.

 

Culminating, in the young wassail King and Queen being lifted into the boughs of the

apple trees, to distribute and join in the cider-soaked toast. The evil spirits where

frightened away by loud shots, being fired safely into the air.

 

For further information please contact Marchand Petit’s Totnes office on 01803 847979

or email: totnes@marchandpetit.co.uk Alternatively visit the website at

www.marchandpetit.co.uk or Stoke Gabriel Wassail Facebook page