Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeYour VillageAlvechurchVillagers ready to wassail

Villagers ready to wassail

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green man

It’s wassail season, and there are several events taking place around the area.

* First up, you can walk off some of that Christmas food and drink by joining Barnt Green’s Wassail Walk on Fri Dec 27. Organised by the parish council in conjunction with Fruitfields Orchard, this will be the third annual Wassail Walk.

There are two routes to choose from – a four-mile route, meeting at 2.20pm, and a three-mile route meeting at 2.50pm. Two walk leaders will lead an interesting semi-rural route from Millennium Park in the village centre to the orchard.

On arrival, walkers will be greeted by a large bonfire and served mulled cider or hot or cold apple juice, while melodeon players and drummers will encourage dancing, singing and merriment before offering a toast to the health of the fruit trees.

*  A Wassail takes place in the Lickey Hills Community Orchard on Sat Jan 11 – meet in the Visitor Centre on Warren Lane at 4.15pm. There will be music, dancing, refreshments and a Mummers’ Play. Dress warmly and bring pots/pans/instruments to make a noise and wake the trees!

* On Sat Feb 1, Aelfgythe Border Morris host their annual Wassail in Alvechurch. They will be joined by several other Morris sides plus musketeers from John Bright’s Regiment of Foote, while Alvechurch Community Choir will provide traditional music.

The event begins at 5pm with dancing at The Crown, Withybed Green, then at 6.30pm a torchlit procession, led by the Green Man (pictured), sets off for The Weighbridge pub, where the wassail will take place in the garden. Villagers of all ages are invited to join in, wrap up warm and bring something noisy to scare off evil spirits.