Wassail with Beggars' Oak Clog at Wightwick Manor and Gardens
Join us this half term for a lively celebration of an age-old tradition! Experience the joy of wassailing, an Anglo-Saxon custom to wish health and prosperity upon fruiting trees, ensuring they "grow well and bear well" for the coming year.
- Booking not needed
- Free event (admission applies)
Join us this half term for a lively celebration of an age-old tradition! Experience the joy of wassailing, an Anglo-Saxon custom to wish health and prosperity upon apple trees, ensuring they "grow well and bear well" for the coming year.
The festivities will begin outside the tearoom, where the Beggars' Oak Clog Dancers from Armitage, Staffordshire, will perform traditional folk dances from the North West of England, accompanied by live music. After their vibrant performance, they’ll hand out pots and pans to everyone to bang and make noise, adding to the lively atmosphere - please feel free to bring your own if you have them!
The dancers will then lead the group onto the South Terrace of the Manor gardens and over to the Tennis Lawn cherry tree, where the traditional wassail ritual will take place. This includes whipping the tree and pouring cider as part of the ancient custom to ensure a fruitful harvest.
This wonderful mix of music, dance, and folklore is a perfect way to celebrate the winter season and coming year.
This event is free to take part in, normal admission costs apply, no booking required. Performances will take place at 12noon and 2pm and will last about one hour. Please be aware that this event may be postponed in bad weather - please check our social media channels or website before you travel. Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
Find out more about Beggars' Oak Clog at www.beggars-oak.org.uk
Times
Prices
Event ticket prices
This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Check admission pricesThe basics
- Suitability
Everyone welcome
- Meeting point
After checking in at our Visitor Reception on our main car park, the performances will start outside the tearoom.
- What to bring and wear
This is an outdoor event and the wassail will be led over grassed areas which may be muddy and wet, so please wear suitable clothing and footwear.
- Accessibility
The wassail route does not go down any steps or steep slopes, but does go over grassed areas which may be muggy and soft if wet.
- Other
Please feel free to bring your own pots and pans to bang! Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.
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