Wassailing the Apple Trees

Series

Series Name: British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.

2591

Date Released

28 Jan 1979

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: Wassailing the Apple Trees. DESCRIPTION: At Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset, they still continue the old custom of Wassailing the Apple Trees. The Pagan Rite was supposed to drive the evil spirits from the apple trees and thus ensure a good harvest. The Wassail Queen dips a piece of toast in cider and places it amongst the apple branches, she then pours cider round the base of the tree. The ceremony is accompanied by music and the drinking of hot punch. SHOTLIST: MS people enter marquee. CU sign ‘Wassailing’. MS man mulls punch. CU punch poured into glasses. MS ditto. MS serving wench hands over drinks. MS musicians. CU accordionist. MCU punch glasses filled. MS serving wench with glasses. CU violinist. MS punch served. CU double bass player wearing gloves. MS ditto. MS Wassailing Queen Julie Hartnell being carried on shoulders into orchard. MS spectators. MS Queen carried to apple tree. MS Queen dunks piece of toast into cider barrel then places same in tree. CU toast in tree. MS cider poured into jug. MS musicians. Various Queen pours cider round base of tree. MS gunman rams home shotgun. Various of guns fired into tree. CU cartridges into shotgun. Guns fired pan to branches of tree. CU cider poured into barrel. Hot punch served. CU ditto and sampled. CU wassailer drinking. Various ditto. MS musicians. Various shots of Morris dancing.

Keywords

Customs and traditions

Locations

Somerset; Norton Fitzwarren

Card file number

79/5

Credits:

Camera: Denis White
Commentator: Leonard Martin

Length of story (in feet)

218

Story extras:

Film clip

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