Bushel, Bushel….Sacksful.

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I thought I may go out and wassail the old apple tree tonight.

No firing of shotguns through the branches though, just a few kind words and to drink it’s health for next seasons apples.

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In some parts of the country the guns were used to wake the trees so that they would hear the stimulating message of the songs that were about to be sang to them, and bonfires were lit to scare off evil spirits.

Now in Devon, being a county famous for its cider, the farmers take all this very seriously as their livelihood depends on a good crop of cider apples.

Then, the men would encircle the tree and with large jugs of cider, toast the trees three times reciting the following:

Here’s to thee, old apple tree,

Whence thou may’st bud,

and when though may’st blow!

And whence thou may’st bear apples now!

Hatsful! Capsful!

Bushel, bushel….sacksful,

And my pocketsful too!

Huzza!

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Cupfuls of cider were thrown over the branches and pieces of toast soaked in cider were lodged in the tree for the orchard spirits to ensure a good crop for next year.

The toast is supposed to attract the birds and when they’ve eaten it, they stay on to eat any insects lurking in the bark.

On second thoughts…..I’ll drink the cider and eat the toast with a nice coating of Marmite!

And look, even Marmite jars are telling jokes now!

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