This weekend the Limpsfield Community Orchard is holding its famed annual Wassail Party in the orchards by Grub Street – Saturday 28 January from 5PM. The fun family event celebrates the apple harvest with apple cider, singing, hot dogs and general merry-making around a big bonfire with drums and rattles.

“So what’s wassail?” we hear you ask… Well…wassail is a hot, mulled punch, drunk from a ‘wassailing bowl’ during winter time to celebrate a successful apple harvest.

Originally, ‘wassailers’ dropped roasted crab apples into hot mead, in which they burst forming a potent cider. Since then it’s become more of a mulled cider made with sugar and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg etc) and topped with slices of toast. It can also include wine, fruit juice or mulled ale, sometimes with brandy or sherry added.

Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
‘Til apples come another year

For to bear well and to bloom well
So merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout to the old apple tree

Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
Hat fulls, cap fulls, three bushel bag fulls
And a little heap under the stairs

Anyway… if you like the idea of a bit of singalong around the fire with the Chart Singers and fancy trying a bit of this medieval and often very potent tipple (don’t worry, there’s apple juice for kids), then assemble at the British Legion on Grub Street at 5ish for a procession through the woods to the orchards at 6pm.

Donations of £2 a head to cover costs would be most welcome. Wear warm, waterproof and colourful gear and bring along torches, rattles, drums and bells if you want! All the family is welcome.

To find out more about the Limpsfield Community Orchard’s work, follow their blog HERE.