Join us for one of our favorite winter traditions...

Annual Champlain Orchards Wassail- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, 3-6 PM

Come on out and join us to celebrate our trees and bless the growing season ahead! Live music and dance with (On The Border) Morris Dancers, warm food and drinks, bonfire...

Bundle up and come early to enjoy skiing, snow shoeing or sledding in the orchard.
Meet at 4PM at the bonfire on the hill to walk to the trees.

And a bit about the Wassailing tradition…

In old English, "Waes hael!", translates to, "Be in good health!" and often when you hold up a glass and announce, "I'll toast to that," you're paying homage to the very old ritual of floating a bit of toast in a spiced ale, a mulled wine or a traditional cider wassail as an honor or in celebration.

Wassailing of the apple trees, originating in Southern England, is one of the oldest wassail traditions, and was traditionally held on the old 12th night (January 17th). The purpose of this ancient ritual and community celebration was to awaken the trees, scare off evil spirits, and bless the trees for a good harvest the next season. A procession of song would travel from apple orchard to apple orchard in effort to ensure a good harvest for the coming year. Villagers would often form a circle around the largest apple tree while singing, dancing, and toasting.

The wassail drink (a spiced cider) was made and shared for this occasion, and traditionally wassail soaked toast was hung in the branches of the tree as a gift to the birds (who were though to represent the good spirits of the trees).

Cider was also often poured on the roots of the trees…

We have our own twist on this ancient celebration, while keeping some of the traditions intact. It's always a fun time, so come bundle up and join us!

Andrea, Bill, Rupert & Rosa

Champlain Orchards,
3597 Route 74 West,
Shoreham, VT 05770