East Greenwich Wassail
The Wassail or orchard-visiting wassail is an English tradition in which people bless their fruit trees to ensure a good harvest come autumn. Typically, these celebrations and blessings are accompanied by song and dance – including Morris dancing – and bring the local community together.
In mid-January, a Wassail was held in the East Greenwich Pleasaunce, a small park that used to be a local graveyard for sailors from the Greenwich Hospital.
A few years ago, the community planted different fruit trees in the park. As part of the ceremony the trees are blessed both by spreading some cider/apple juice into the trees, but also by placing pieces of bread or toast onto the branches of the trees.
The full album of images is on Flickr.
