Link to Home Page
Claude Moore Colonial Farm
6310 Georgetown Pike •  McLean, VA 22101 •  703-442-7557
  

A visit to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm is a visit to another world ...the world of an 18th Century family living on a small,
low-income farm just prior to the Revolutionary War.

The year is 1771 ... won't you come and visit?
Home   ||   Visit   ||   Education   ||   Shop   ||   Join Us   ||   About the Farm   ||   Catered Events

Special Event on the Farm

Wassail

Stand fast, root! Bear well, top!
God send us a howling crop!

In the dead of winter the apple trees need encouragement to bear well during the coming year. Gather in the Farm's orchard to wassail the trees with singing, dancing and chants to ensure a "howling crop." Enjoy hot spiced cider, sugar cakes, a bonfire and 18th century games.

For the current year's event schedule, please see our calendar of events. Events may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

 
Neighbors arrive
Catching up on local gossip
Pouring hot apple cider
     
Drinking warm cider on a cold day
Wassail!
Friends and neighbors decorate themselves with holly and other greenery
     
Playing music
Beating the apple tree with sticks will exhort it to bear well next year
Wassail decorations

 

Information about Wassail and Christmas


Here's to thee, old apple tree;
May'st thou bud, may'st thou bow!
Hats full! Caps full! Bushel, bushel bags full!
Sacks full! Barns full! And our pockets full!

In times past, Christmas was a simpler celebration centering around religion and ancient customs. The crops were in, food was stored away for the winter, and farmers finally had time to lay down their tools for a few days of merry-making. Families and friends gathered together and enjoyed feasting, drinking, singing, games, stories and dancing. The merriment lasted from Christmas through Twelfth Night on January 6th.

During the holiday season, farmers gathered to wassail their crops and farm animals, a tradition which dates back to pre-Christian times. "Wassail" is a toast meaning "be of good health." Through singing, dancing and chanting, our farm family and friends wassail the apple orchard to encourage the trees to bear well in the coming year. To secure the good will of the birds, we place toast in the trees; to feed the trees, we pour cider on their roots; and to stimulate growth, we thrash the trees. By shouting and making a great noise, we drive out any evil that may be lurking in the orchard.

 

Wassail the trees, that they may bear
You many a plum, and many a pear,
For more or less fruit they will bring,
As you do give them wassailing.
Herrick, 1600s


 

 

Copyright © 2010 Claude Moore Colonial Farm
6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia 22101 • 703-442-7557

Home || Site Map || Contact Us