THE annual wassailing evening for the Tavy and Tamar Apple Group will take place in Bere Ferrers on Saturday (January 12) at the church hall and adjoining orchard.

The apple wassail is a traditional form of wassailing practiced in the cider orchards of South West England during the winter.

First mentioned at Fordwich, Kent, in 1585, groups of young men would go between orchards performing the rite for a reward.

On Twelfth Night, men would go with their wassail bowl into the orchard and go about the trees.

Slices of bread or toast were laid at the roots and sometimes tied to branches. Cider was also poured over the tree roots.

The ceremony is said to 'bless' the trees to produce a good crop in the forthcoming season.

After the poor crop of 2012, renewed efforts will be made at the Bere Ferrers wassailing to ensure that the ancient ceremonies are complied with to the letter!

The evening will start with a short story about wassailing, followed by dancing and singing by the Border Morris and the Tavy Tars, who will then process from the hall to the adjacent orchard.

There the Tars will exhort those present to sing various wassailing songs, with much shouting and banging of drums and cans to frighten away evil spirits.

This will be followed by hanging of toast to attract the insect loving birds and the pouring of cider around the trees.

The evening then continues in the hall with music and dancing with drinks and pasties.

Entry is by ticket only from Margaret's Hairdressers on 01822 840380.

Any profits will be donated to Devon Air Ambulance.