Wassail will light up Tarring High Street

The annual Wassail is a medieval ritual to ensure a good cider apple harvest.

Co-ordinator Martin Frost explained: “The SVM Wassail was established in 1999 and is a public, torchlit march with music through Tarring High Street to an apple tree in a private garden and beating a tree awake with loud music noise, chanting and flares.

“Since its inception, the Wassail has been a successful and safely conducted event, and as part of the local folk calendar is very popular with the community.”

The morris dancers will muster at the north end of the High Street at 7.30pm. The procession down to The Parsonage at the southern end will begin at 8pm.

It will then return to The Vine pub, where a choir in the garden will be signing the procession in for the tree ceremony.

The Mummers play will follow, in the road, before the dancers retire to the pub for beer and music.

A crowd of around 150 spectators is expected for the Wassail and chant sheets will be handed out so that people can join in.

Wassail cake and cup will be offered and a collection will be made to cover expenses and for event funds.

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