Wassailing in a Hampshire orchard

Wassailing is an old country custom involving a bonfire in the orchard some time in January. I don' intend a long discussion about the various traditions, except to say that I regard it as 'folk' rather than 'pagan' but wouldn't get into an argument about it. The discharge of shotguns into the trees is traditional but we don't do that-too noisy and dangerous! We have held our wassail on the second Saturday in January for about the last 12 years, except when the weather is too bad, which is about 1 year in 3. Good health to our jolly wassail.

[@andrewnorris2]

Tremendous, its so important to keep these old festivals alive. A joy to watch. Thanks for this. Favourite!

[@nickhall7894]

This is one of the best versions of this song I've ever heard. I wish I could get them round to my small orchard in Lincolnshire.

[@sugerbear520]

nice

[@HowToHistory]

Brilliant!

[@kestrelmuse]

Delightful, We always sing this at Christmas here at our family party in New Mexico, but never thought of dancing around our apple tree. Wonder if the dear tree would mind toast soaked in ice cream punch or maybe we should stir up a separate bowl of hard cider

[@docsimonson]

What a lovely celebration! If I lit a fire like that in my backyard, it is a good chance I would be answering to the Police, Fire Dept and probably the EPA. Very good health to you and yours!

[@cooper68ns]

Thank you mr hayes .it was almost as good as being there,just could not quite taste the cider,but i bet it was good:).thought this was great.cheers,all the best.

[@TredaraTV]

Bonfires aren't illegal in this united state. we've done wassailing before - now we must learn a Morris Dance.

[@nickstone4358]

Is that the Edge on guitar?

[@stephenhayesuk]

@BugsWisely My goodness, a bonfire ban in the land of the free.....but its OK to have hand guns? its a strange world

[@BugsWisely]

... Bonfires are illegal in the United States. We used to have a big bonfire every fall before the snow til it got so difficult to get a permit we said "why bother?"

[@edmundburke3373]

To all those in the U.S. who have experienced burn bans: you should move to rural Kentucky, we have no such things! ;)