Around 200 people attending the traditional Abergavenny Wassail held at the Laurie Jones Community Orchard last Saturday.

Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard
Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard was a resounding success. (Photo supplied)

For the first time, the procession around the orchard was led by the orchard’s Green Man puppet, made by Susan Holder and Tom Bramley.

Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard
(Photo supplied)
Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard
The Green Man made an appearance at Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard (Photo supplied)

The procession was followed by a traditional wassail ceremony, led by Jeff Davies, and children were invited to places pieces of toast soaked in cider, in the branches of the apple trees, to please the orchard spirits!

Abergavenny Wassail at Laurie Jones Community Orchard
(Photo supplied.)

The Jolly Wassailers performed The Cornish Wassail, and everyone then joined in singing The Gower Wassail, The Gloucestershire Wassal, and to finish, a rousing version of Wassail The Silver Apple. 

Cider and apple juice pressed from orchard apples, and apple cake, was then enjoyed by everyone present, and as the evening drew in the braziers and candles were lit to make the orchard look even more magical than usual.