Kick up your heels at Garden Organic Ryton
Sunday 17th January 2010
at Ryton Gardens
11 am
Due to the adverse weather conditions we are advising all potential visitors to The Wassail to call the Shop in advance of travelling on 02476 308 201.
A traditional British custom will be kept alive this winter when Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing charity, holds its annual Wassail on Sunday 17 January 2010.
The Wassail, a custom that originated in the cider-making regions of the South West of England, is celebrated on the Sunday closest to old Twelfth Night and involves the blessing of apple trees to ensure a bumper apple harvest in the coming year.
Coming from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘wes hal’, meaning good health, the Wassail is believed to banish winter’s blues to make way for spring. And to celebrate this vibrant, centuries old custom, Garden Organic is inviting visitors to kick up their heels and join in the fun at its ten-acre site in Warwickshire from 12.00 – 2.30 pm.
“The Wassail is a fun and energetic custom which really brightens up a cold winter’s day. Coming to see the spectacle is a great opportunity for families to get outdoors and enjoy a colourful tradition that has been celebrated for centuries. If you want to witness true British folklore, then don’t miss the Wassail!”
Revellers at the Warwickshire event on Sunday 17 January 2010 can witness the Elephant Up a Pole Morris dancing group re-enact the traditional custom in Garden Organic’s apple orchard. The group begins by saluting a special apple tree. Next cider-dipped bread is placed onto the branches to attract robins, which are said to bring good luck.
Ending with a bang, the wassail culminates in a blank shot being fired to wake the orchard from its winter sleep.
Throughout the event can enjoy watching Elephant Up a Pole demonstrate different styles of dance with sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells as well as the wassail re-enactment itself in Garden Organic’s apple orchard, which is over 20 years old and has more than 20 different apple trees to see.
Garden Organic Ryton is open from 9am – 5pm. Admission to the event, which begins at 11am, is £6.00 for adults, £5.50 for concessions and £3 for children. Admission is free to Garden Organic members.
Included in admission is access to the ten-acres of beautiful landscaped organic gardens as well as Garden Organic’s interactive visitor experience – The Vegetable Kingdom. Visitors to Garden Organic Ryton can also enjoy lunch in the charity’s award-winning restaurant and cafe.
Top of pageGarden Organic is the working name of the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA).
We are not responsible for the content of external web sites.
Bookmark this page on: