5th December 2021
WASSAILER VISITS WILTSHIRE TO SHARE THE HISTORY OF WASSAILING
Wassailer Sharing Wassailing History
Ace, wassailer Robin Burton will entertain guests in Malmesbury this month by sharing the history of a practice commonplace in the South West until the early 20th century.
Robin, who lives in Stroud and is chair of the Stroud wassail Group, will run a Wiltshire session about the wassailing and its relationship with Christmas on Wednesday December 15. He’ll illustrate the talk, which will last for between 40-50 minutes, with pictures and song.
The Stroud Wassail Group
The Stroud wassail group began as a modest gathering of around a dozen people in 2014. It’s now grown and has attracted several hundred participants. They include Morris dancers and mummers, dance groups, actors and singing groups. They all perform in fourteen different locations around Gloucestershire and beyond.
Robin said: ‘The most common wassailing, which was widespread in Gloucestershire, dates back to pagan times and was the ‘apple orchard wassail’. In that, followers sing to the oldest apple tree in the orchard. They then bless the trees, make sacrifices to the gods and pour mulled cider round the base of the tree to ensure a good harvest.’
But Robin will explain during his talk how most wassails feature door-to-door entertainers. They play music, sing and wish everyone good health and good fortune around the time of the New Year. This in exchange for food and drink or sometimes some money.
The word ‘wassail’ came from the Anglo Saxon greeting ‘Waes Heal’ meaning ‘be whole’ or ‘be healthy’.
The Stroud wassailers keep the tradition alive from early December through to the second week of January. During this period they visit pubs, hotels, private parties and other venues throughout the area.
They perform various songs and present Mummers’ plays. Then, on the second Saturday of the New Year – by tradition Wassail Day – the Wassail itself takes place in Stroud.
One claim to fame came when the production company of the BBC series Britain’s Christmas Story, contacted Robin. They invited him to take part in the series with Gareth Malone OBE, choirmaster, presenter and broadcaster. The series followed the history of Christmas revealing some of the legends behind the festive season’s traditions. And, with the use of music, explored what Britain has sung at this time of year across the centuries.
About Robin’s talk
Robin’s talk for the Athelstan Museum will be live on Wednesday December 15 at 7pm in the Rausing Building – the old Moravian Church). The address is: Oxford Street, Malmesbury SN16 9AX subject to Covid regulations.
The Athelstan Museum runs with volunteer help. It’s recently acquired its own Turner of Malmesbury Abbey. You can view it free of charge during its opening hours.
To book on to the event visit https://www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/event/the-wassail-tradition/
See also:
https://swindonian.me/2021/11/22/malmesbury-museum-gets-codebreaking-donation/
and https://swindonian.me/2021/09/09/malmesbury-turner-going-on-display/
