THE rain held off and people turned out in their hundreds to take part in this year’s Sandford Wassail.

Fire, shouting, firing shotguns, music, cider, toast, a procession, dancing, pitchforks, bashing pots and pans were all a part of the event.

In the cider-producing counties of the South West and South East of England, wassailing refers to a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking the health of trees in the hope that they might better thrive.

The wassail in Sandford was revived in 2011.

The evening began with everyone gathering in Sandford Square and the arrival of the parade of Exeter Morris, Sandford Scouts, the Brown Paper Bag Mummers and many others with lanterns, large papier mache stars and shapes as well as other groups and individuals.

There was morris dancing in the square and this was very impressive when the dancers performed routines with sticks, many Sandford Scouts also taking part.

Afterwards, apple cake was served to many of those gathered.

Daska Pearce, from Crediton, was crowned as this year’s Wassail Queen.

Mark Bailey, as The Green Man, of Exeter Morris, was master of ceremonies for the evening.

After the ceremonial part, the procession made its way to the Millennium Green for the ceremony to bless the trees.

It also included gifts and a song to thank the trees for their crop and fire and noise to scare away the evil spirits. Cider was poured around one of the apple trees by the Wassail Queen.

Toast was then placed in the branches using a pitchfork by the Wassail Queen.

Daska said it was a great honour to be Wassail Queen and it was appropriate as she works for local cider producing company Sandford Orchards.

Shotguns were fired into the trees and people bashed pots and pans, rattles were shaken, whistles blown, instruments played and people shouted for the noisy part of the proceedings, the frightening away of the evil spirits.

There was also a performance by the Brown Paper Bag Mummers and a bonfire was lit.

Warming Sandford Orchards cider was available as well as roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate to purchase in aid of Sandford Scouts.

The event was organised by, and in aid of, Sandford Scouts and more than £700 was raised at the event.

Wassailing is a pagan tradition dating back to medieval times and the word wassail comes from the Viking term “waes hail” for “good health”.