Wassail! Waking the Winter with a CLANG. A Workshop & Parade Event for all ages. Both events are FREE and everyone is welcome. No need to book
(1) The workshop at Kings Heath Library takes place from 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Prepare for the Wassail parade with these fun craft activities that use natural and recycled materials. Make a head dress to wear, a shaker to rattle or a feeder for the birds. Then join the parade to hang your tasty treat for the birds on a fruit tree in Highbury Orchard.
(2) Wassail Parade 3:30-4:30 PM meets at Kings Heath Library and proceeds to Highbury Orchard (note: the parade will leave Kings Heath library at 3.30 PM; the Wassail will begin at Highbury Orchard at 4.00 PM)
Parade up to Highbury Orchard to wish the fruit trees good health in 2020 and lift your own spirits during the coldest and darkest time of year. Make some noise, drink warm apple juice, laugh with friends and warm yourself by the fire. Expect singing, music and cake. Dress warmly in an outfit that channels your inner ‘Green Man/Woman/Person.’ Bring pans to bash, instruments to play and a torch for finding your way home.
About the Wassail
Waking the Winter with a CLANG is a new performance produced by General Public in collaboration with Highbury Orchard Community & Ashiana Community Project. The Wassail is part of General Public’s The Pomology Project. Wassail means ‘good health’ and is a traditional winter ritual in fruit orchards that involves poetry, theatre and singing to the trees to bless them with good growth, blossom and fruit to ensure a good harvest for the coming year.
Wassails are about connecting people and communities to the natural world and seasonal cycles, as well as giving people a reason to come together in the outdoors during the darkest months of the year. All of which, it could be suggested, are beneficial for well-being. Drawing upon folklore, but situated within a contemporary context, this new Waking the Winter with a CLANG ceremony will explore and celebrate strategies and tactics to survive in the winter, in times of mental distress, and life in general.
Taking the five ways to well-being as a starting point: CLANG - Connect, Learn, (be) Active, (take) Notice, Give - the event will feature drumming, some seasonal M-C-ing, folk songs, a new Birmingham preserve called ‘Black Butter’, vegetable based props, lots of fire torches & two characters representing Summer & Winter. It is family and child friendly & we would like lots of local families to come and take part.
CARRY A FIRE TORCH!
(18yrs+ only)
Book on Eventbrite if you would like the thrill of carrying a fire torch. Guaranteed to bring atmosphere and drama to the parade while adding to your personal popularity.*
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wassail-waking-up-the-winter-fire-torch-tickets-tickets-81711450147
* Not verified by any fact based science, based purely on the author’s personal opinion.