Wassailing

The word wassail derived from the Old Norse ‘Ves Heill’ from whence came the Old English ‘Wes Hal’, meaning be in good health.

Wassailing is a ceremony with ancient roots designed to awaken the apple trees from their winter slumber and to ensure a good harvest in the forthcoming year. Wassailing died out in Whimple after the Second World War, but was revived by the Whimple History Society in 1993.

The Whimple Wassail takes place on 17th January each year in the evening starting at the Whimple Heritage Centre and moving on to various orchards throughout the village before ending up at the village cricket club for refreshments.

The wassailers are accompanied by local folk musicians including Jim Causley (Jim Causley • Devon Folk Singer | 6 x BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee) and Emma of the Slack Ma Girdle ceilidh band (Meet the band | Slack Ma Girdle), who also provide entertainment at the cricket club.

If you are planning to travel to the wassail from outside the village please note that there is almost no public parking available in Whimple, and the roads leading to the village are not suitable for pedestrians as they are unlit, narrow, and bounded by high hedges. We strongly advise that you consider travelling to the wassail by train. Whimple is on the Exeter to Waterloo railway line, and parking may be available at some of the larger stations on this route.