The Friends of Bourne Wood held their first Wassail in the community orchard in Bourne on Saturday in conjunction with Bourne Borderers Morris.  A Wassail is a traditional custom to celebrate the apple harvest and reawaken the trees.  The event started at 4.30pm, just as it was becoming dusk with Bourne Borderers dancing.  The crowd that had gathered were then offered a taste of either mulled cider or apple juice and some cake, before everyone sung the ‘Apple Tree Wassail’.

The gathering then proceeded into the orchard, the way being lit with lots of natural lights.  The trees were blessed with cider, and toast was placed in the branches for the robins, by anyone wishing to take part.  The Wassail Queen Emily sang a beautiful solo and the trees were wassailed, followed by lots of noise, with everyone present banging pots and pans, and cheering!

Once back on the hard-standing the Borderers danced again, Emily sang a further lovely song, and all joined in the ‘Here we come a wassailing’.

“Our Wassail, jolly Wassail, joy come to our jolly Wassail. How well they may bloom, how well they may bear, so we may have apples and cider next year”

“Hat-fulls, cap-fulls, three bushel bag-fulls, little heaps under the stairs. Hip, hip… Hooray!”

The evening ended with the Mummers play, and thanks to all for their attendance and help.

The Friends would like to especially thank Bourne Borderers for their help and support with this new event.