HUNDREDS turned out to watch the Leominster Morris perform their annual twelfth night wassail last week.
The tradition is carried out to bring good health to the year's cider crop and the ceremony began with a torchlight procession from the Boot Inn, in Orleton, to the village's orchard where the chosen tree was blessed.
It was soaked in last year's cider and fed with cider-dowsed cake while the wassail song was sung and morris dancing was done.
A ring of twelve fires were lit, while another – the Judas Fire – was lit and then extinguished to symbolise the conquering of evil spirits.
The evening ended with more morris dancing and music and song in the pub.
The team of 25 found themselves the picture of the day on the Financial Times website the following day, as well as the subject of an article about English twelfth-night traditions in the International Business Times.
Leominster Morris will be out again on Saturday January 16 to assist at Kingstone High School's wassail as students lead the ceremony and perform a mummers play.
Visit leominstermorris.org for more information.
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