The Hastings Vegan Dining Club went wassailing recently. Wassailing means “be in good health.” At this time of year, people everywhere go out to their fruit trees at dusk and stand around them to make noise to ward off evil spirits, raise toasts and sprinkle the ground to encourage bountiful crops. Blessings are also read. And we vegans do it, too. Well, the Hastings Vegan Dining Club did it at the home of two of our members who farm organically and have an apple tree in their garden. Here’s the blessing we read out.
Here we come a-wassailing. Among the leaves so green. Wassaile the trees, that they may beare. You many a plum and many a peare. For more or lesse fruits they will bring. As you do give them wassailing. Here’s to thee, old apple tree. That blooms well, bears well. Hats full, Three bushel bags full, and all under one tree. HURRAH! HURRAH! We should all drink to that … And wish each other, one and all, A healthy and happy New Year!
With the Wassailing over, we went indoors for a lovely three course meal of appetisers, baked or jacket potato and buckwheat vegetable stew, and traditional figgy pudding.
Hastings Vegan Dining Club members look forward to celebrating our third anniversary with a very special meal.
