Enjoy a traditional ceremony led by the Taunton Morris Men, featuring our Wassail Queens. The festivities will continue with a lively barn dance and merriment into the evening, all set against the crisp, fresh air. Don't miss this magical celebration of winter!
If you have never been before, A cider wassail is an ancient English tradition that celebrates apple orchards to ensure a bountiful harvest of apples for cider making in the coming year. Rooted in folklore and community spirit, this lively event typically takes place between December and January, the heart of winter.
Participants gather in the orchard to perform rituals designed to "wake up" the apple trees and drive away evil spirits. The ceremony often involves singing traditional wassailing songs, reciting blessings, and pouring cider around the roots of the trees as an offering. People may also bang pots and pans. The Sheppy’s trained team fire shotguns (we have the licence) into the air to frighten off any malevolent forces. A toast to the health of the trees often concludes the ceremony.
A cider wassail is both a festive celebration and a tribute to the age-old connection between the land, its fruits, and the community that nurtures it.
We have two queens in our cider wassail tradition: the Queen of the Orchard from last year, who graciously passed her crown to the newly crowned Queen for this year's celebration. The outgoing Queen symbolizes the wisdom and success of the past, while the new Queen embodies hope and prosperity for the future. Together, they represent the continuity of tradition and the ever-renewing spirit of our orchard's vitality. This ceremonial passing of the crown is a heartfelt moment that unites past blessings with future aspirations, ensuring the orchard thrives for generations to come.
Tickets available please follow the link, very limited car parking spaces. We are on the main bus route to Taunton and Wellington.
