There was a large crowd out Monday for the Family Day Wassailing Festival at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery near Cheltenham. An orchard-visiting wassail refers to the ancient custom of visiting orchards in cider-producing areas, reciting incantations and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. Members of the Orange Peel Morris Dancers were leading the parade to the orchards.

The festivities included lots of opportunities to toast marshmallows. Taking part in the fun were Eva Labancz, 5, of Toronto, Lucille Weeden, 4, of Boston Mills, Kierran Wilson, 6, and Max Sardina, 5, of Toronto, who was accompanied by his father Matt.
Photos by Bill Rea

Mark Whitcombe, of the Orange Peel Morris Dancers, led those assembled in the orchard in the singing of the Carhampton Wassailing Song, which he said is believed to date back to the 1700s. It a song that calls for a good crop of apples in the coming season.

Juliana Elmer of Milton watched as her daughter Liadan Carito, 6, put a piece of toast soaked in cider on one of the branches of an apple tree. put a piece of cider-soaked toast on the branch of an apple tree. It’s part of a ritual aimed at promoting a good apple crop.

One of the highlights of the Wassailing Festival was the dancing, performed by the Orange Peel Morris Dancers.

There was a craft area at the festival. Cyndi Toubia of SouthFields Village watched as her sons Oliver, 2, and Xzaviar, 5, worked on their creations.

The festival also included rides through the snow around the property.