Sheppy’s House of Cider celebrated the ancient cidermaking ritual of Wassail on Friday 26th January, with lots of chanting, dancing, fire, music and plenty of award-winning cider. 

This is an important night in the cidermaking calendar which celebrates the ancient ritual of orchard wassailing. This Somerset tradition is an important part of cidermaking heritage as it chases away the ‘evil spirits’ in the orchard, awakens the benevolent ones, and ensures a plentiful harvest.

The ingredients for a good wassail are noise, fire, guns, hot cider and plenty of people to sing and shout the ancient wassail songs. There was food and plenty of drink available, with music from local folk band Fresh Aire and traditional Morris dancing from the Taunton Deane Morris Men to round off the night.

With over 300 attendees last year and 500 this year the Sheppy’s Cider team had another well attended event with plenty of enthusiastic noise-makers and cider fans. Thank you all for joining us at our annual Wassail event. Your presence added warmth and cheer to our large gathering. Fingers crossed for another good harvest.

The Sheppy's team would like to thank both our out going Queen Selina and our in coming Queen Emma.