Wassailing: The British Midwinter Blessing Custom

Wassailing: The British Midwinter Blessing Custom

"With legends going back over a millennia, Wassailing is a fascinating and colourful part of the folklore and traditions of Britain. From the Apple Wassails of Devon and Somerset, to the Doll Wassails of Yorkshire, this ancient blessing tradition has adapted itself to every level of society from agricultural workers to Lords, even featuring in four plots to murder the Monarch of the day. This book by Simon Reed, author of 'The Cornish Traditional Year,' examines every aspect of Wassailing with the hope that it will inspire people to revive and enjoy this important tradition"

Simon Reed lives in Penzance, Cornwall where he is a leading campaigner for Cornish native culture. He has been a central and key figure in the revival of traditional Cornish customs and festivals in the Penwith region, notably the hugely successful Montol festival, the Cornish celebration of Midwinter in Penzance, and the May Horns festival, which has been re-established as an annual event. He is also the organizer of other smaller cultural events on a regular basis. His first book, The Cornish Traditional Year, is a valuable resource for people with an interest in regional traditional customs and festivals. In addition to the better known Cornish festivals, such as Helston's 'Flora Day' and the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss, Simon guides the reader through the numerous lesser known, and sometimes bizarre feasts and festivals of the Cornish Traditional year.

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