Fruitful day as ancient ritual goes ahead (From Malvern Gazette)
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Fruitful day as ancient ritual goes ahead
11:00am Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News
REVELLERS young and old flocked to Clive’s Fruit Farm, just outside Upton, on Sunday to take part in the ancient ritual of wassailing.
Morris men danced and ancient guns were fired in the ceremony, designed to scare off evil spirits and ensure that the orchards are fruitful this year.
Richard Hannah, who was the wassail’s butler, said: “We had an excellent turnout. The morris men danced well, the procession was tremendous, cider was poured out as a libation for the trees and children hung toast from branches.”
Farm owner Jane Clive said: “It went very well, considering we had to postpone it because of the snow.
