The Wassail at Tarring.

Hey ho to Tarring we go to celebrate the archaic ritual of Wassail in the ancient village of Tarring hosted by The Sompting Village Morris.

So, first off, let's have a torchlit processional dance up and down Tarring High Street:

Then into the orchard for the ceremony:

Details from the back of the song sheet:

"We awaken the apple trees spirits with our chanting and loud music.  A virgin is invited to place toast in the branches for the winter robins who will carry off any bad spirits. The Wassail Applecake and a double-handed Wassail Cup of mulled cider is passed freely around as everyone joins in the chant and hullabaloo."

I am eternally grateful to Pansy Cradledew for the loan of the book "Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids, A Journey Through the English Ritual Year" by Sara Hannant which brought this wonderful little ritual to my attention.

Linda's over the moon as cider's her drug of choice.

I was hoping Christopher Lee would turn up wearing a frock, but he didn't.