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Buckland Abbey Wassail
On Old Twelfth Night (January 17th) Dartmoor Border have reguarly entertained at the Buckland Abbey Wassail with their unique brand of traditional dancing and an appropriate song called 'Dead Dog Scrumpy'. The side performs two sets and the Adderbury 'Shooting' dance.
The evening is hosted by the Abbey in the historic Great Barn and the staff ask the audience to participate in several 'wassail songs' and some country dancing. There is also an opportunity to sample delicious apple cake and mulled cider. The Abbey have a scratch long sword side that are traditional in the sense they only perform one dance, once a year - in this instance the North Skelton Longsword dance. The dance involves much twisting and turning holding onto the 'swords' to the tune of the 'Muffin Man' before the 'lock' is successfully raised. |
 Shooting |
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A Wassail country dance |
The Wassail band |
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The Longsword dance |
Enjoying the apple cake and cider |
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The Green Man then leads the procession to the orchard where, to ensure a healthy crop of apples for the coming season libations of cider are poured over the roots of trees, ribbons and toast are tied and placed into the branches to bribe the birds not to peck the forthcoming buds and the trunks are rapped with sticks to stir up the sap. Everyone is then encouraged to make a great tumultuous noise with pots, pans, rattles and whistles. This is to symbolically awaken the trees from their Winter slumber.
The last tree to be 'wassailed' usually features the Adderbury 'Shooting' dance accompanied to the sound of shotguns! |
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Green Man anoints tree with cider from ancient horn |
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Ribbons tied into trees |
Toast dipped in cider placed into the trees |