Come join on Sunday 12th January 2025 for the annual Redcatch Wassail with Heartwood Chorus!

Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition that has been practised in England for centuries. Come and participate in an old English folk tradition, where we bless our little apple trees so that they have plentiful harvests in the future. It has its roots in a pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest the following season.

12:30-1:15pm – Join us in preparing for the Wassail Ceremony at our crafts & crown-making workshop! Everyone welcome to get into the Wassail spirit by making a crown or a Wassail wand to use in the ceremony plus plenty of drawing & colouring.
£3 suggested donation.

1.30pm – A free singing workshop in the beautiful canopy space, open to everyone who’d like to learn the Apple Wassail song. Lyric sheets will be provided. Harmony parts will be taught (but feel free just to sing the tune). The workshop will be led by Heartwood Chorus.

All are welcome, all ages, all abilities, all voices: no experience necessary. This is a folk tradition and isn’t a polished thing, and we believe singing is something to take part in, not just to listen to. If you think you don’t have much of a singing voice, we especially encourage you. Come and have a go!

3pm – The Wassail ritual. We’ll pour cider on the roots of the apple trees, chant, sing and bang pots and pans to ward off evil spirits (please bring a pot to bang if you’d like!)

Though there are no rules, some folk like to dress in very bright colours when Wassailing. Feel free to dress brightly!

Mulled Apple, Mulled Cider and hot food available.

Bring pots, sticks or anything else to make a noise with and to wake the trees!

Free to attend