Wassail Research
The Dunton Wassail has been going since 2012 (with a year off for Covid in 2021). as part of the team responsible for organising the event I have great fun organising the event and we look forward to it all year. It is great to bring together the local community for an evening of midwinter fun.
In a moment of weakness, I thought it would be interesting to see what other people do at their wassails. After a bit of help from Google and from Colin Cater's book Wassailing - Reawakening An Ancient Folk Custom, I have embarked on a project to review as many wassails as I can find in the UK to understand what happens at each wassail and why the wassailers come out in the depths of winter to do something as eccentric as hanging toast in the branches of apple trees.
My intention is to publish a book and possibly develop a web resource - I'm not sure where the project will end up. The military saying that no plan survives the first contact is very true and can be applied to this project. Having thought I might spend six months or so looking at wassails, the scope has expanded and I am probaly looking at a couple of years work from today (December 2025). Still, at least it will keep me out of mischief for a while!
This is me in full voice at the 2019 wassail.
(Photo by Asan Tu).
So who am I?
My name is Simon Bailes and I have been into folk music and traditional activities for most of my life.
I am a morris dancer dancing with Letchworth Morris. We are a mixed Cotswold side based in Letchworth in Hertfordshire. We have a very full program every year and have danced at the Dunton Wassail since it started in 2012.
I sing with Jack In A Barrel - a six piece acapella group based in Turvey, just outside Bedford. We sing for the fun of it and get involved with events in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
I lead a sea shanty group - The Biggleswade Barnacles. We meet once a month to practice and then get out to sing as often as we can.
I also play the accordion and run a monthly session in a local pub.
This keeps me busy, but I have the luxury of being part retired so have plenty of time to follow these hobbies and to research wassailing.
If you see me out and about, do come and say hello, or drop me a message using the fom opposite.
How To Get Involved With My Research
What I am doing to start with, is collecting information about wassails. Where they happen, who organises them, what songs are sung and what ceremonies or blessings are carried out.
If you are a wassail organiser or you know of a wassail in your area, please complete the form below and I will give you a shout. I intend to create a record of as many wassails as possible, including photographs, to document our wassailing activities in the 21st century.
If you want to be kept up to date with progress on the project check the box below and I will send you an e mail every couple of months.