We welcomed the new year with a Wassail in the orchard. As dusk fell at four o’clock on Saturday, our community gathered for food, drink and traditional entertainments. The festivities culminated in toasting the orchard trees to encourage them to be fruitful in the year ahead.
The local Ringheye Morris side kicked off the party with a selection of dances, including Abram, Knutsford, Worthclough and Mallorys March.
The brief rain shower did not dampen the hilarious capers of the Thelwall Morris performing their Mumming Play.
The local poetician, Mike Gibson restored calm to the proceedings with some orchard-themed poems and tunes.
The Deputy Mayor, Colin Banks, performed the essential duties of judging the wassail hat contest and toasting the apple tree with verse and cider.
Robin and Karina Middlehurst of the Ringheye Morris performed some traditional tunes and led us in singing the Wassail song.
Young apple tree, we wassail thee
And hope thou wilt bear.
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
till apples come this year.
For to bear well and to bloom well, so
Merry let us be.
Let’s all of us take off our hats
And shout to the apple tree!
YOUNG APPLE TREE! WE WASSAIL THEE!
AND HOPE THAT THOU WILT BEAR
HAT-FULLS, CAP-FULLS, THREE BUSHEL-BAG-FULLS!
AND A LITTLE HEAP UNDER THE STAIRS!
HIP HIP HORRAY!
We are grateful to everyone who helped create such an enjoyable event, including the performers, the Knutsford Hosts who serving the food and drink, Sister Barista who providing alternative refreshements, and Adam and Laura who preparing delicious home baked ginger bread, biscuits and fresh vegetable soup!
Thanks to everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
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