Harrison Park East
Orchard Wassail
Sunday 11th January 11am -1pm
Join our Greenspace group to welcome in the New Year and celebrate the orchard with orchard care, shared songs, poems and stories, and some mulled apple juice – the ancient Old Twelvey Night custom of wassailing.
The word “wassail” comes from the Old Norse phrase “ves heill” which means “be in good health” or “be fortunate”. Wassails are a blessing for a good harvest, a moment of reflection and well wishing and a way of caring for our wider community of human, animal and plant kin.
Dress up if you like, be ready for all weather and some noisy community fun – bring bells to ring, pots and pans to clang, a mug, and stories, songs, poetry or anything else you might like to share in honour of winter and the orchard.
Meet at the orchard near North Merchiston Club, and Café 48 will be open until 2pm afterwards.
contact Fiona@fcct.scot or 07706580147 with any enquirires
Here are some wassail songs we may sing together, bring any others you know to share!
Oh apple apple tree
Oh apple apple tree
I have come to wassail thee
Will you bear some fruit for me
As the season changes
Second part
Apple tree
Wassail thee
Fruit for me
Season changes
May there be Fruitfulness
To your health, dear tree,
To the depth of your root,
To your health, dear tree,
To the tip of your shoot,
To your health dear friend,
As I take your hand,
May peace grow in these troubled days
May we learn more loving ways
May there be fruitfulness – wassail!
By Jane Lewis
Here we come a-wassailing
Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen
Love and joy come to you
And to you your wassail, too
And God bless you, and send you
A Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year
Hear the fiddles and the drum
The orchard filled with song
Open wide your doorways
And sing and share along
Refrain
Bring the wee ones in your arms
Come those of many years
Sing the songs of hope
That would ease us from our fears
Refrain
Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wand’ring
So fair to be seen
Refrain x2
