Swindon community gathers for ancient ‘wassail’ ritual at TWIGS

Staff, volunteers, service users and visitors gathered for the event, which was also attended by the Mayor of Swindon Cllr Fay Howard.

For many present, it was their first experience of wassailing, an old English folk tradition rooted in pagan customs and focused on blessing apple trees to encourage a healthy harvest.

The ceremony featured Morris dancing, singing and bell ringing, along with the placing of toast in the branches of the apple trees. Cider from the previous year’s harvest was poured onto the roots as part of the ritual.

Eleanor Moriarty, one of the organisers and this year’s Wassail Queen, explained how the ceremony unfolded.

“We are going to be starting a procession very soon with the Icknield Way Morris Men, and we’re going to process around through the gardens,” she said.

“We’re going to go and bless the apple trees for a fruitful harvest with a cup of cider. There’ll be some singing, some bell ringing, and we’re going to be shaking tambourines and drums and rattles and things like that to ward away the evil spirits.”

She said the tradition combines pagan and folkloric elements, with a strong focus on health, storytelling and song.

“Wassail means good health,” she explained, describing it as a ceremony of protection and hope for the year ahead.

The wassail has been held at TWIGS for almost 10 years, and Eleanor said last year’s ceremony was followed by a particularly successful harvest.

“Oh my goodness, did we ever have a good harvest,” she said.

“That’s really nice because we have an apple day in October where we press all our apples and make fruit juice. That’s a really lovely community event as well, and a big fundraiser for us too.”

Preparations for the event took place throughout the week as part of TWIGS’ regular therapeutic sessions, involving both volunteers and people who use the service.

“It’s all part of our therapeutic process during the week,” one organiser said.

“People using the service and our volunteers are helping us get ready for the event, so it’s part of their journey of recovery and therapy while they’re here. It’s a unifying process of coming together.”

TWIGS runs ongoing programmes supporting people with mental health challenges, as well as groups for older residents and those experiencing grief and bereavement.

Organisers said events such as the wassail help bring different parts of the community together, blending long-held traditions with the charity’s modern approach to wellbeing and care.