Annual Lincolnshire Waes-Hal, Skidbrooke and Saltfleetby

What is Wassailing?

The word 'Wassail' comes from the Anglo-Saxon waes haeil which means To Be Healthy, so wassailing apple trees was a way of encouraging a good crop in the coming year.

For centuries farmers have gathered their families and friends in the local orchard, fortified by a fearsome array of sticks, firearms and cider. The whole company danced and sang, frightening off the evil spirits whilst praising and toasting the 'Apple Gods', therefore ensuring a bumper crop at harvest time.

The Annual Lincolnshire Waes-Hal

A great day to enjoy and remember for years to come with the Grimsby Morris Men.

Activities started at 11.00am at Skidbrooke Orchard (less than a mile from the Prussian Queen). This was kindly hosted by Guy and Kate Williams of Skidbrooke Cider, Lincolnshire's only cider producer.

A ceremonial bonfire was lit to symbolise the heat and light of the coming summer and a welcoming speech given to the enthusiastic crowd.

Grimsby Morris Men performed a couple of dances before forming a merry and noisy procession around the orchard of 70 trees. A toast to Pomona (the Goddess of Apples) was followed by further dances and lots of noise to frighten off the evil spirits!

Then on to The Prussian Queen for liquid celebration! As lunchtime progressed there was more morris dancing, eating drinking and merryment, then later a lively performance of a traditional Lincolnshire Plough Play with strange characters from a bygone age.

>>Find directions to Skidbrooke.
>>See the Grimsby Morris homepage

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