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Master how can you forbear
Come fill up our bowl with cider or beer.
With our wassail, wassail, wassail,
And joy come with our jolly wassail.

The Wassail Chant
Oh apple tree we honour thee
In hope that you will bear
The blessed fruit of Avalon
At harvest time each year.
Each golden apple you bring forth
A gift to Aphrodite
Has at its heart a pentacle,
The symbol of her mystery.

Your blossom heralds Springtime
Your leaf brings Summer shade.
Let Samhain's* harvest cup be filled
With cider freshly made.
When Winter's cold envelops you
In wind and rain and hail
Then we'll return each year to bring
Our grateful thanks WASSAIL!

*Samhain, is an old word for Halloween
and pronounced sow-ayne

Cider and apple cake were blessed, then passed around the 500 or so participants.
A shotgun was fired twice into the air, to frighten evil spirits away. It was followed by a huge cheer, excited drumming, and enthusiastic shouting and whistle blowing. We all saved a few drops of the cider, and poured it at the base of the trees later, with a few words of thanks to them.

The proceedings lasted about an hour, then it was back to the barn for a party. Locally made sausages and burgers were cooking as we returned, enticing us to eat, before having a drink and watching the barn dance.

A space was made in the centre of the packed barn, and a caller shouted the moves from the stage. Everyone was having fun. I have never seen so many happy faces at one time as I did that night. Despite most of us being strangers, there was a strong feeling of a community coming together, and it was wonderful.

When the dancers were worn out, there was a mummers play, which kept us in stitches from beginning to end. Mandie and I left there with a warm glow in our hearts, and the satisfaction of having had a thoroughly enjoyable night out. We will be back next year to do it all again.

Learn more about this author, Gill Hamper.
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