Ancient Tradition of Singing to Trees // Wassail Documentary

The Anglo-Saxons left a pagan Winter tradition in Western England where people sing to the apple trees to encourage a good harvest, and this is called Wassailing. Wassail comes from Old English "wes hal" meaning "be healthy". There are many well attested records of the tradition of “wassailing the apple trees” from the 16th century onwards - but this practice is generally agreed to be far older. Each village has its own customs, but singing to the trees, offering them toast and making noise are common to all.
In this video I visit two small villages in Devon to demonstrate the Wassailing tradition. It includes firing guns into the air, hanging toast in the tree branches, electing a Wassail King or queen to lead the procession, a mummers play of an axeman who attacks the trees, lots of cider drinking and lots of singing too! Thanks to Sandford orchard and all the people who participated in the two events.
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[@kaarne3]

You're doing very important work documenting these traditions, Tom. Hail!

[@bronzantilium7699]

I can’t begin to tell how much this video warmed my heart! Native English reclaiming their old traditions, and such an organic tradition bound in the soil. Wonderful to see old and young participating. A wee bit of antidote to the usual glum news cycle. Let the young get a sense of the spirit of the land and a connection to their forebears and they will have something worth fighting for.

[@JackovdaBoro]

Im a working class lad from north east england ive been watching your videos for months now thank you for bringing me in touch with our tradition and our ways. I would of never of known this and i appreciate your work.

[@weansardman]

COBALTJACK33 well said! Thanks to Tom for bringing me in touch with my heritage too.

[@Me-ei8yd]

My dad is from Lincoln and landed in Vancouver Canada. He grew up post war in the fields of marem Le fen. He talks of some things but survive the jive is keeping it alive! Thank you! ♥️🇨🇦♥️

[@osgar333]

Wassailing is alive and kicking in the east of England too; in Suthseaxnaland...Sussex! At least 4 each year, within a 40 minute drive of where I live.

[@luciobrazil007]

yeah, I've been to a few in Sussex, it's becoming more popular each year

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

Any around or near Dallington in Sussex?

[@osgar333]

@@baronoflivonia.3512 Star Inn, Waldron always have an Apple Howling (Wassailing ) but this years unsurprisingly is cancelled.

[@leornendeealdenglisc]

Wesaþ ġē hāl, Æppeltrēow! Be ye whole, Apple-trees! Great video, Tom!

[@c.b.kansan1700]

It makes me sad to know that the world held traditions like these and that so many people have forgot where they've come from and left these things behind. This is representative of what's truly important in life. Tradition, community, gratitude and appreciation for the very essence of life.

[@FcBow]

Your channel is an absolute treasure. Thank you for helping keep our culture alive!

[@etheraether4884]

It is alive no more than a scroll in a library is alive. Lol

[@Chris-tt5cc]

I love that you're covering surviving local traditions (like the burning barrels). These are really important, practical traditions that we can maintain today. It's not just something you read about in textbooks and that's wonderful.

[@joetrimble7953]

I think Virginia orchards may need to have a Wassail revival.

[@outaboutwithleeyamcgeeya2571]

I’m so pleased to learn that these types of festivals are still happening in Britain. It looks like lots of children taking part as well. They will remember who they are and carry that memory with them all their lives.

[@kvasirsblood1107]

I love these age old traditions. It's so important to keep our heritage alive, the practices of our ancestors. Wassailing seems to have deep roots in animism too, because by singing to the trees we are influencing their spiritual essence. And like that bloke said, Devon grow the most apples, so it's definitely working!

[@jd-py5nm]

My family before they left for America were apple growers great video thanks

[@DLC1325]

I am of largely English descent and it really feels good to see the old traditions that my family has all but lost ties to. Ironically enough of all the booze in the world hard cider makes me extraordinarily happy. Maybe its in the blood!

[@nadiamcslide3180]

Hello from the United States. I am a Black American of Cuban origin that celebrates my English and German ancestry. I want to see the continuation of European heritage and traditions for my family to enjoy and pass down. I understand the hard work and effort for Northern Europeans to find history on the distant past just as it is with most Black Americans. I thank this channel for helping me and others connect with European traditions.

[@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905]

No offense or anything, but shouldn’t you be celebrating your black African roots more than your European roots?

[@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905]

Or your Spanish roots for that matter, considering that you’re Cuban…

[@compulsiverambler1352]

Yes, that is how I feel, as a Western European (English specifically), sad and resentful that Christian missionaries from the Middle East and Rome came and convinced our leaders to suppress, destroy, neuter and hijack the Old Ways, scaring our ancestors with the threat of hell and eventually the threat of violence or imprisonment, into adopting Christianity. How tragic that powerful descendents of those Western European converts later did the same thing to other cultures in Africa and the Americas, with a variety of terrible methods. Like a virus, once you become infected (by any religion that demands that you convert as many people as possible to save them from hell) you sometimes infect others. This contagious cultural destruction spread across the globe like wildfire, driven by the cruel fear of hellfire that it instills in its victims. Speaking for my own country and certainly some others, modern Yule time here, or Christmas, is a beautiful mashup of many different cultural influences over the years, including Christian influences. However, I prefer to call it Yule, because calling it Christmas reinforces the beliefs of those who STILL want to shame everyone else into seeing the festivities as exclusively Christian, with embarrassingly ignorant "put the Christ back in Christmas" and "Jesus is the reason for the season" propaganda.

[@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905]

@@compulsiverambler1352 Well, I understand what you’re feeling, and while I understand your sentiment, at the end of the day, I really hope that this proves to you that religion, for the most part is kind of bullshit, because which religion is true your religion, their religion, somebody else’s religion? Who apparently has a truth here who who who is the truth point to somebody or some religion that apparently speaks absolute truth? And if you can’t do that, then that literally proves my point…

[@ms.construed1305]

@@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905who is to say they don’t? We are all made of many.

[@JJ_Acton]

Great video Tom! I would love to see a series of theses videos showing village pagan traditions all round the British isles and Ireland. Just think of all the ancient village pubs you could visit on the way, for... research purposes :P

[@lanmarknetworking3034]

Im going to be mulling cider and wassailing the tree in my front yard of urban Oklahoma this year in thanks for this video!

[@Declan_Moriarty]

Exactly what I'm looking for; a sort of guide to help me find my way back to my ancestors and our culture. Thanks, Friend!

[@luciobrazil007]

Nice, this is my favourite pagan tradition. In Sussex they used to wassail beehives as well as apple trees (according to Jaqueline Simpson) , but the records of how this was done have been lost.

[@hundwyn7530]

Whoa, that's the first I've heard of this. The Old English goddess of bees was Béole; (O.N Beyla) we can render it *Beela in modern English If we can find a parallel practice with more specifics in, say, Vedic literature, we could revive a ritual to our dear Beela.

[@kakapokid1796]

I'm gonna hunt down some wassailing in Sussex this winter for sure. I'm sure the weldweald and downland open air museum do it.

[@susanwestern6434]

Well known folk singer and piano accordion player, Jim Causley, does the wassail in Whimple Devon. Whimple was the home of Whiteways Cider. They also produced Cydrax and Peardrax the sparkling non alcohol version that children drank. Ironed it as a child.

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

I don't care what tradition or religion or path makes a person love and respect trees. Anyway someone gets to that truth is truth to me. I must say there really is such sweetness in this particular approach.

[@blade666vamp]

Tradition and heritage is everything, such a pity so many can’t see it, great vid 🤘🏻

[@catalystdrive]

Plants feel the energy, it's science. Nature that is celebrated bare the greatest fruit and here it is exemplified when the greenman speaks of the production of their trees. 😁

[@grrahrawr5688]

It's so nice that you're showing us the actual celebration of your traditional holiday. Very interesting, thank you.

[@cscran]

I just wanted to say "beautiful," but I see many people already had the same reaction. May the good king return soon and revive the land.

[@cristerowarrior1450]

Thank you for preserving your culture.

[@azimuthclark462]

I am a brand new subscriber from Bjorn and Viking stories. I'm glad I could find another Channel where I could learn and enjoy my people's culture thank you

[@persylives6487]

What an enjoyable evening everyone is having. It warms my cockles to see this ancient tradition being celebrated by both old and young. They’d make their ancestors proud.

[@stephan5673]

Thank you for helping Maintain our traditions, And recording them.

[@sarahtaylor6322]

Wonderful video. We're having to choose between three wassailing events this year which means it's coming back!!! Wassail to you and thanks for the lovely watch!

[@HerewardtheWake23]

Wholesome... more people should know of these traditions

[@brythonekgrey1744]

I think this a fantastic little film tom. I was born in cornwall and moved around the south west to devon as well and now live back in the county of my birth. There are so many vital and life affirming traditions in our home counties, with many good and honest folk keeping them alive, and we should take our places amongst the revellers.

[@robfictionwriter3310]

There is a road on the edge of the West Midlands called Wassell Grove Lane. From the lane you can walk over a field to Wychbury Hill, the site of an ancient Celtic Grove of Tree and a hill fort. The name Wych is thought to have come from the Saxon tribe the Hwicce. The Hwicce conquered, and genetics would suggest assimilated with the Dubunni. The fort once stood very close to the border between the Dubunni (later the Hwicce) and the Cornovi. I am fascinated by the mixed Celtic Germanic inheritance we have. I have always thought of the 'green man' as being more Celtic, not sure if I am right? The king and queen has echoes of beltane? Thanks for another informative video. Great to see our heritage being celebrated.

[@hitewakeasllielimsolls8443]

The Green Man is certainly Celtic at the very least. Hu-wicce People !

[@robfictionwriter3310]

Hwicce (Old English: [ʍi:kt͡ʃe], /hw-ik-chay/) was a tribal kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the kingdom was established in 577, after the Battle of Deorham. After 628, the kingdom became a client or sub-kingdom of Mercia as a result of the Battle of Cirencester. From Wikipedia. They were a Saxon Tribe (hence the West Country type accent in Worcestershire) the Mercians were mostly Angles.

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@robfictionwriter3310 Deorham was won by the West Saxons. Are you saying that the Hwicce were originally part of Wessex, being Saxons?

[@robfictionwriter3310]

577 after the battle of Dyrham the area of the Dobunni fell to the Gewisse (predecessors to the West Saxons). West Saxons then came in and set up an Germanic led area. Angles defeated the West Saxons by 628 and took tribute from the leaders of the Hwicce and integrated their area in Mercia. Penda did the same with the Welsh area around Wroxeter. I come from the Blackcountry the accent is definitely Angle, similarities with other Midlands and Northern English accents. Three miles over Cent and into the area of the Hwicce the old accent was very 'country' more in common with the West Country (Saxon Areas). Most of the genetics of the Hwicce were probably pre Anglo-Saxon, however, culturally they integrated in the Germanic World. That is what I think anyway.

[@robfictionwriter3310]

The name Hwicce could be an insult to the native British people of the Lower Severn Valley, it could come from the name Gewisse, it could be a reference to 'wicker' making things from reeds (there were large reeds beds in the lower Severn Valley). There would have been Germanic influence before 577 in the area. The Dobunni area was heavily Romanised, the locale elit no doubt relied on Germanic mercenaries. The Cornovi, Shropshire Staffordshire etc relied more on their own fighting force.

[@kejsarmakten]

So beautiful. Glad this exists. Thanks for sharing.

[@micksimmons8644]

“Like all good nights mine begins in a five hundred years old pub.” Excellent.

[@bladsac]

Beautiful tradition

[@Sara88890]

Thank's for sharing, we do wassailing in the US, but with no context as to why, this helps us connect to our culture across the pond.

[@TheModernHermeticist]

This is the good clean pagan-catholic fun i'm looking for.

[@amandagoodman4777]

nothing catholic about wassailing ...., LOL ...

[@jackparker8602]

@@amandagoodman4777 Catholicism has a minor pagan ethos, certainly more pagan than protestantism.

[@saxogatley1166]

The Modern Hermeticist This is a pagan holiday, not a Christian one.

[@dixienormous2461]

Evola GANG

[@crookedninja5]

Wes hāl everyone : ) There was certainly a mixture of Christianity and Paganism in the Anglo-Saxon period... To bad Paganism was beat out by the Church, mostly because of war and education... and with Pagan's sacrificing people and animals etc... Wes du hāle.

[@denelios]

I was Wassail King at the Sandford Orchards wassail 2020, and the dreadlocked lady who was Wassail Queen in this film is a friend of mine here in Exeter. Its a small world, here in southern England’s biggest (and best) county 😉

[@pickashole]

We have no culture apparently I've been told. But this is our culture and should be celebrated and rightly so. Hail England

[@richard9444]

I'm a Pagan and proud.

[@gee-wizz.5050]

Thank you for a fabulous glimpse into our past, that still retained a connection to the earth and the seasons. It must have felt a far more meaningful and wonderful way of life back then, and a lot happier I should think. I need more! 👍

[@iamgod6464]

OOOARRR! I'm a Dawlish, Devonian living in the Apple Isle of Tasmania which was settled by people from Devon and the West Country. It's good to see our Pagan Traditions are still being practiced in the place from whence I came. We need more of it to reconnect with our Culture and Nature.

[@starrcitizenalpha7847]

Ƿes þu hal, freond! I, too, dwell in the Apple Isle (Huon Valley). Pre CONvid we had our own wassailing during the mid-winter festival held at Willie Smith's Orchard. Hopefully it will make a comeback, as it was very well supported. And, yes, we are in dire need of reconnecting with our ancient culture and spirituality. Be well.

[@iamgod6464]

@@starrcitizenalpha7847 Excellent news Starr Citizen Alpha. Good to read that even here on the Apple Isle you and your friends are still practising the Old Pagan Ways. And it's no wonder because Tasmania resembles the West Country in so many ways. Cadw'n iach!

[@wadejustanamerican1201]

Thanks for the video. All of your videos have always been informative. A great help in teaching my kids about our Ancestors.

[@northernenglander1916]

Wonderful video -It's Okay to be English

[@AroundElvesWatchUrselves96]

bUt WhAt Iz eNgLIsH?

[@BB-xm6hy]

@Repeat After Me: he was making a joke pretending to be one of the people who ask what English is, as if it has no true objective meaning.

[@joannechisholm4501]

@@AroundElvesWatchUrselves96 Look up Wikipedia what is Scottish or Welsh

[@mrbenn2209]

@Repeat After Me: r/woosh

[@yooochoob]

english are rasist

[@vincentjoyce455]

How absolutely beautiful to see. I can't wait to visit "home" and this will be something on the list to see. Thank you.

[@hermeticdruid]

That was beautiful. I learned a lot!

[@stover14]

I am absolutely fascinated by these English traditions.

[@carramills8270]

Truly beautiful. Thank you for helping raise awareness of Britain's wonderful culture.

[@jamesrolph6384]

Amazing video. Thank you very much.

[@bilbobagshot8891]

Great video - thanks for making it. I'm running a wassail in a couple of days time so this has been really helpful

[@aquilatempestate9527]

Worcestershire wassails, and always shall.

[@georgeptolemy7260]

Boy this didn't age well unfortunately.

[@aquilatempestate9527]

@@georgeptolemy7260 ?

[@georgeptolemy7260]

@@aquilatempestate9527 I'm referring to the UNSPECIFIED VIRUS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN shutdown

[@TizzmantineUK]

@@georgeptolemy7260 nothing stops good cider

[@matthewbowen8556]

I'm from Worcester! Can you tell me where the Wassail happens superficially?

[@toshatrollwarrior]

I love this! Thanks to everyone keeping these traditions alive.

[@TROTHofficial]

Thank you so much Thomas, for this great video! Once again you provide a most insightful and splendid document.

[@Lokigh]

Thank you for bringing attention to our wonderful culture Jive

[@laurawoodward3046]

This is so great to learn about. My family left England in the late 1800s for New Zealand and Id love to learn more about my ancestors culture and traditions

[@GodsOwnPrototype]

Remembering Norman Rowsell, Wassail to all his warm bodied family.

[@ReadySaltedCrisps]

Ahh this is super comfy. I had no idea about this tradition, thanks for shedding light on it! I would love to travel down to Devon next year to Wassail!

[@EyeOfWoden]

You do important work Tom! Curses upon anyone who denies you the right to be rewarded for your efforts.

[@livesteam_ss]

More stuff like this!, important to document the traditions so they may never be forgotten. Very good video.

[@solgato5186]

We so could use more dancing in the streets with the seasons over here in the States. Returning something to the soil is wisdom we've lost.

[@susanwestern6434]

Cornwall and Devon have more traditional dancing in the streets than other places in the UK.

[@terrormachine6704]

Wow, the cinematography is getting so great.

[@Pentagathusosaurus]

The village in Norfolk where I grew up revived the wassail when I was a kid, I'm sure it was a lot more hippyish than our ancestors version but it was a lot of fun.

[@somersetpgrim]

Brilliant video. We attended our local Wassail last weekend, tis a great tradition! Loves me a Wassail!

[@StemAlliansen]

Wassail! Great video

[@gammamaster1894]

Another brilliant, high quality production!!! Thank you so much Tom!

[@MrNinjaFish]

They're reviving this in some parts of Scotland

[@C.Noble13]

WTHECK Wassail is a Drink my family makes at Christmass aka Yuletide 3/4 Apple cider 1/4 cranberry juice Cloves, Cinnamon sticks, Allspice, nutmeg and vanilla. One Orange with whole cloves stuck into the skin. Cook for 6 hours in crockpot or oven. Good Wodnesdæg

[@rodderz5615]

Thank you again for another invaluable treasure 💎⚔️ Science is just catching up to these ancient and subtle intuitions 🔬

[@Fatherland927]

Great video mate. Looks fun

[@asathesinger]

So heartwarming to watch

[@PyraDraculea]

Note to self: wassail the newly planted apple tree come January. Might as well do the cherry tree as well.

[@dharmawarrior111]

I am a Cider Drinker, I drinks it all of the day, I am a Cider Drinker, it soothes all me troubles away, Ooh arrh, ooh arrh ay, Ooh arrh, ooh arrh ay. (Rumour has it the Wurzels are the Illuminati).

[@stevethomas5849]

Drink up thee cider, for tonite we merry be. The Wuzzles

[@theroyalpotato8390]

Wassail sounds a lot like the Dutch 'wees heel' which translates to 'be whole'.

[@lmonk9517]

Prince Charles famously talks to his plants. Charles confirmed Pagan.

[@robertarmstrong2470]

Prince Charles is a fool who with the aid of a wool headed bishop of canturbury brought about the advocation and invitation of sharia law to this country he is a chinless traitor to this nation,

[@hitewakeasllielimsolls8443]

The "royals" are controlled and deep in corruption. Even with their forced marriages.

[@hicmad]

@@firstnamett4656 They have lots of money and influence which brings power.

[@samuelprice2461]

Very interesting! Where I am in the United States, we have a particular kind of spiced apple cider that we call Wassail (pronounced “Wassel”). It is generally associated with Christmas time.

[@susanwestern6434]

The cider is alcoholic in the UK.

[@URangryX]

I am VERY HAPPY to see this tradition and the pure joy of my people carry on! God Bless The Irish, the Scots, the Brits, and the Nords!! I know we all disagree, but we are All the same blood and I love ye'!! I hope we all have peace and joy one day.

[@Survivethejive]

Thanks but British means English, scottish and welsh fyi

[@daithimcbuan5235]

Great to see such traditions revived! The more of our culture we reclaim the better! I wish for Halloween/Samhain and other traditions to become un-americanised.

[@Victoria-7777]

I will be attending a Wassail in deepest Lancashire tomorrow at a local Grove. There will be singing, dancing and drinking! Long live our ancient ways

[@sandinista2218]

Just got on to your channel,will share. Sweet

[@no1uknow32]

I love this video so much. I've been wondering what this would look like in real life.

[@dungcheeseMORK999]

Waes hael Tom! Good health to you and your loved ones!

[@redtony58]

Blessings of Zemyna (Baltic Goddess of the soil) on your Wassail.

[@sharris4162]

Thank you for sharing this👍

[@leifbennett2917]

I'm astounded that anyone would criticise you for asking for donations to help make videos of this quality. Great video, thanks very much.

[@Lin-Carl]

Banjos and guns.... has Devon become America? =p Either way, I love it! Love a bit of Morris dancing and I hope this becomes more celebrated and widespread throughout the UK.

[@susanwestern6434]

They have used shotguns for a very long time. Every farmer would have one. But not banjos.

[@bleunwenn]

That's fascinating, I didn't know about this! I started singing to trees recently, without thinking much about it. It feels really good. 🌳

[@jimcookemusic]

Great stuff Tom, many thanks.

[@munkittytunkitty]

Excellent video :) Happy Twelfth Night!

[@WitnessTrueSorcery]

Thank you for this video Tom. It cheered me up pretty well. While I was living in North Devon, in Ilfracombe particularly (a lovely town), I can't really remember though, if the town's folk were celebrating this tradition around that time of the year. If you know anything on the matter please let me know. I passed through Bideford countless of times with the Ilfracombe - Barnstaple coach on weekends. Magical countryside and a lot to behold. Good times, but alas... Hearing or seeing about Devon always brings memories. Both good and bad, but mostly plesant ones. I've been in the south too! Keep your local traditions alive! Cheers mate!

[@Survivethejive]

The oldest wassailing traditions are in Somerset side of Exmoor in Porlock and Carhampton

[@WitnessTrueSorcery]

Oh, I see. Gotta do more personal research on the topic then. Thank you for the response. Very much appreciated for the excellent content!

[@peterbrunsden380]

Wassail from Wessex!

[@vikingsuperpowers]

this England is the Shire that Tolkein wrote for us. Heart warming. From a one time Australian apple orchadist.

[@jeffebdy]

I spent many summer holidays fruiting... then after I left school working in local orchards...I loved the autumn...we always left a few apples on the apple and pear trees at the end of each season as an offering...I wonder if Whitehall Farm and Elvington Farm still does this 40 years on....I hope so! Christian now but I still cherish my ancestral traditions

[@fogonthebarrow-downs1583]

I think the Anglo Saxon metrical Charm for Unfruitful land contains elements you could call a sortof proto-wassail. A prayer for fruitfulness and to drive away evil. Erce, Erce, Erce, mother of earth, May the Ruler of all, the eternal Lord, grant you growing and flourishing fields, increasing and strengthening, high stalks and lovely fruits, and the broad barley-crop, and the white wheat-crop, and all the fruits of the earth.

[@Survivethejive]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2LXmmqfd56Wr5Y

[@someguyinplace]

Well done once again Tom!

[@taetannim3581]

I'm going to try bringing this to South Carolina! How fun! We could use some more authentic traditions from our ancestors! Help our kids have better foundations.

[@TheJoecardiff]

I go to the yearly in Much Marcle Herefordshire. You should come along to it. Very intense.

[@lend1788]

this video is very well produced, surprised it has so few views

[@lowqualityshitposts8860]

The Eternal Anglo and the Infinite Saxon...

[@jonb3311]

Crikey, Baldric is 50! All the cider must be doing him good.

[@comradesomo]

>I like to represent Earth, Wind, and Fire Do you remember? Dancing in September!

[@lynneturner3704]

Lovely