Programme Outline
Date: January 4th 2025 (Twelfth Night eve)
Location: Carrbridge Community Orchard

1. Welcome -Dusk (c 4:00 PM) 

Welcome: Brief introduction to the event and its significance. Wassailing is a traditional English custom with deep roots, often associated with Twelfth Night (January 5th) or Old Twelvey (January 17th). 

• Safety Briefing: Outline health and safety guidelines for the evening.
  Specifically Swedish Candles, Fire Basket and slip/ trip hazards

2. Wassailing Ceremony 4.15-4.45

• Wassail Song:  sing traditional wassailing songs.

• Blessing the Trees: Participants form a circle around the apple trees, making noise with pots, pans, and drums to ward off evil spirits.

• Offering to the Trees: Pour mulled ‘cider’ around the roots of the trees and hang pieces of toast as an offering.

• Wassail Bowl:

  • The traditional toast "Waes Hael" (meaning "Good Health") is exchanged with "Drink Hael" (meaning "Drink Well")[1][2].

3. Mulled Cider and Refreshments 4.30- 5

• Mulled Cider: Serve warm mulled cider to adults and non-alcoholic spiced apple juice for children.

• Snacks: Provide light snacks such as biscuits and fruit.

• Marshmallow Toasting
  Fire Pit: Safe area for marshmallow toasting. (shepherd crook stakes and natural rope just inside log seating )

• Supervision: Ensure children are supervised by parents while toasting marshmallows. (see safety briefing above)

6. Closing  ( pm ….)

• Thank You : Thank you for supporting the community orchard.

• Final Song: End with a final wassailing song.