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Bracken Farm, North Muskham, to hold free community Wassail event to welcome new year in apple orchard




It’s time to dust off your old rattles or whistles, grab some pots, pans or bells, and join an ancient new year tradition.

Bracken Farm, North Muskham, will once again hold a winter Apple Wassail, on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

The ancient tradition celebrates apple orchards, giving thanks for the seasons past and good health for the apple trees in the new year — and has been taking place on or around twelfth night since at least the 16th century.

The Wassail will see evil spirits scared off by banging pots and pans, and attendees toasting the good health of the trees with mulled cider.
The Wassail will see evil spirits scared off by banging pots and pans, and attendees toasting the good health of the trees with mulled cider.

The farm’s owners, husband and wife Nigel and Laura Catt, created their cider apple orchard back in 2021 and have since expanded it to 180 trees, and are keen to keep the tradition alive.

"We wanted to create something for the local community, that's free to attend and lets people enjoy themselves at the beginning of the year," said Nigel.

"It also keeps alive a traditional celebration, more commonly found in the southern cider making regions of the UK."

The ancient new years tradition of Wassailing is once again to be held at Bracken Farm.
The ancient new years tradition of Wassailing is once again to be held at Bracken Farm.

The event, starting from 6pm, will feature a short ceremony where attendees follow a route around the young apple orchard.

This will include scaring off evils spirits by banging pots and pans, rattling or blowing whistles, and also singing and toasting the good health of the trees with mulled cider, or juice for children.

Laura added: "It's lovely to see the local villagers wandering down the lane with torches or lanterns on their way here.

"Last year we had music and Morris Dancers as well as the local Pinkies — a theatrical group keeping the plough play traditions alive — as well.

The ancient tradition celebrates apple orchards.
The ancient tradition celebrates apple orchards.

"As the relatively young apple orchard matures over the years, our plan is to make cider from the fruit as well as hold 'pick your own' fruit days, as a good percentage of the orchard trees are eating or dessert apples too."

The event is free to attend but tickets must be booked, and are available on the farm’s BrackenXcapes glamping website at www.brackenxcapes.co.uk/wassail2025.

There will be a bar service available at the event, and overnight accommodation is also available to book online.



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