I met Dick Streeter down the White a couple of nights ago and he gave me a
leaflet (as seen below) that contained the words of the Wassailing song they
will be singing at John Batcheldor's orchard in Park Lane on Monday 6th January.
A chance to see the Mummers play at the White Horse as well if you missed it this year.
Dave Toye 30th Dec 02
The Broadwood Morris Men - Wassailing The Apple Trees
Having selected a suitable tree The Broadwood Men will bash the trunk with sticks to drive out any evil spirits that may be lurking there within.
Cider will then be poured over the roots to enrich the soil and help to ensure a good crop in the coming year.
Next, toast soaked in cider will be hung in the branches of the tree to feed the robins, who will carry off any remaining bad spirits. This task is traditionally performed by a virgin!
Now everybody recites one of the following verses:
First Tree:
Here's to the old Apple Tree,
May'st thou bud, May'st thou blow,
Hats full, caps full, full quarter sacks full,
HOORAY!
Second Tree:
Here stands a good old Apple Tree,
Stand fast root, Bear well top,
Every twig apples big, Every bough apples enou',
Hats full, caps full, four and twenty sacks full,
HOORAY!
After the verse everybody makes a lot of noise with
whatever they can. (E.g. hooters, football rattles etc.)
The proceedings are concluded with the singing of a wassail
song. Please join in the chorus:
Wassail, wassail, all over the town
Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown
Our bowl it is made from the white maple tree
And our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee
Return to pub for Music, Mummers Play etc
(The Broadwood Morris Men - Bob Weddell 01293 536887)