Old Apple Tree We Wassail Thee
An Apple Tree Wassail...
"The Apple Wassail is a traditional form of wassailing practiced in the cider orchards of South West England during the winter. There are many well recorded instances of the Apple Wassail in the early modern period. The first recorded mention was at Fordwich, Kent, in 1585, by which time groups of young men would go between orchards performing the rite for a reward. The practice was sometimes referred to as "howling". On Twelfth Night [the night before or of the Epiphany/January 5th or 6th], men would go with their wassail bowl into the orchard and go about the trees. Slices of bread or toast were laid at the roots and sometimes tied to branches. Cider was also poured over the tree roots. The ceremony is said to 'bless' the trees to produce a good crop in the forthcoming season. Among the most famous wassail ceremonies are those in Whimple, Devon and Carhampton, Somerset, both on 17 January." -Wikipedia
Old Apple Tree We Wassail Thee
Wassail Song
Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hope that thou shalt bear
For the Lord doth know
Where we shall be
Come apples another year.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
For to bloom well
And to bear well so merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout out to the old apple tree.
Old Apple tree, we worship thee,
And hope that thou will bare
Hatfuls, capfuls, and three bushel bagfuls
A little heap under the stairs.
Three cheers for the apple tree:
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Hip hip horray!
Thanks!
