Waking the orchard from its winter slumber: Community comes together for annual Wassail ceremony in Ryton
The annual traditional Wassail ceremony took place in Ryton on Saturday January 17, to wake the orchard from its winter slumber.
This year’s ceremony set off from the Blacksmith’s Arms, with attendees encouraged to dress up in top hats and bowler hats decorated with ivy, mistletoe and other winter greenery.
Attendees joined in a procession to the Community Orchard, where they were treated to a fine display of Morris Dancing by local Morris dancers, followed by singing, making noise to ward off evil spirits, and placing cider-soaked toast in the apple tree branches to ensure a good harvest.
Cllr Dale Keeling, who represents the Dunsmore and Leam Valley ward and is vice-chair of Warwickshire County Council, was one of those who attended the ceremony.
He said that, nationally, wassailing is seeing something of a revival, and is often driven by local community groups and businesses, such as Ryton Organic Gardens and the Blacksmith’s Arms.
Though Ryton has held this event for some years, it was disrupted by the pandemic.
Cllr Keeling added: “Wassailing is a traditional Anglo-Saxon ritual to bless the orchards for the coming year. During the ceremony, people gather in the orchards to sing, make offerings to the trees to ward off evil spirits. It’s fantastic for us all to get together as a community for a light-hearted evening of traditional festivity. I would like to thank the Blacksmith’s Arms who are an essential part of our village life, and all the volunteers at the Community Orchard.”
For anyone interested in the tradition of Morris dancing, The Knightlow Morris Men – a men’s Morris dance group based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore – are holding a free trial day in Rugby later this month. The Morris dance afternoon takes place at Rugby Methodist Church Centre in Russelsheim Way on Saturday January 31, from 1pm to 4pm. No previous experience is required.