Hull Wassail 2008 (7) - Here We Come A Wassailing

January 13th, 2008 saw the first ever Wassail (meaning good health) to be held at the young orchard on Pickering Road, Hull, UK.

Wassailing celebrants join in with a traditional Wassail song:

"Here we come a wassailing among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wandering, so fairly to be seen,
Now is winter time, strangers travel far and near,
And we wish you, send you, a happy new year.

Bud and blossom, bud and blossom, bud and bloom and bear,
So we may have plenty of cider all year,
Hat full's and cap full's and in bushel bags an'all.
And there's cider running out of every gutter all.

Down here in the muddy lane there sits an old red fox,
Starvin' and shiverin' and lickin' his old chops,
Bring us our your table and spread it if you please,
And give us hungry wassailers a bit of bread and cheese.

I've got a little purse and it's made of leather skin,
A little silver sixpence, it would line it well within,
Now is winter time strangers travel far and near,
And we wish you, send you, a happy new year."

The apple trees to be blessed had been planted as part of a scheme to provide local schools with a minimum 5-a-day fresh fruit and vegetables.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Hull
• Pagan
• Wassail
• Pickering
• Orchard
• Spring
• Yorkshire
• tradition
• folklore
• chant

[McGrenzer]

Thank you all for braving the elements to continue a tradition that brings joy to all of us at Christmas! Happy Holidays from Minnesota.

[brightphoebus]

Hey! That was nice! Looks cold! I hope the cider was yummy, I bet it was. Happy Yule folks!

[SheffieldTiger]

Wow...how it's changed. My gt Grandfather used to look after Pickering Park, and his father before.

[moglebob]

Way to go girls!!