Wassailing in the Orchard. Music and dancing led by That Blue Patch - good fun to be had by all own a winter's day....
If you have never Wassailed before, now is the time to experience the Broomfield Wassail . . . we wake up the trees from their winter slumber; we thank them for last year's crop; we drive out evil spirits and wish them the best for the new year . . . and taste mulled cider.

What is wassailing?

The purpose is to encourage the spirits into ensuring a good harvest the following season. It takes place on the twelfth night after Christmas and involves a visit to a nearby orchard for singing, dancing, drinking and general merrymaking.

The joys of Christmas past

In contemporary Britain, we’re accustomed to the festive season beginning in early December and ending on New Year’s Day. It’s so ingrained in our cultural calendar, that it’s easy to forget that Christmas once looked very different before the industrialisation of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The popular carol ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ and Shakespeare’s play 'Twelfth Night' are two cultural survivors offering clues to some of the ways people celebrated Christmas in the past. Advent, a time of fasting, was observed from the 1st to the 24th of December. Christmas would then last 12 days, ending with feasting and revels on the 5th of January – the eve of Epiphany in the Christian calendar – with wassailing a key part of the celebrations.

Read more about wassailing here

More details Email a link to this event Show Map

PGC cannot guarantee that all What's On information is 100% accurate. If in doubt, contact the organisers or visit their website using the More Details button.

Show map

See all upcoming events

Become a Friend of Cooking Champions today!

While we admire and support the Christmas campaigns that we see pop up in December, we also know that help is urgently needed all year round, each and every year. As some people pack away after the festive break, we are still here.

Our support is not limited to a food package, but it leaps beyond - we form connections, we listen and respond to everyone who steps through our doors. We open up a warm, safe, environment which aims to feel like a home away from home.

For us to continue to thrive and grow, and keep supporting as many people as possible, we are asking you to become a Friend of Cooking Champions. Even a donation of just £5-10 per month can make a HUGE impact on the lives of those who come through our doors.

Pop to our People's Fundraising page to donate, and we promise to keep you updated with how your support is making a difference. Thank you, we appreciate you! Team Cooking Champions