CLANGING kitchenware and screeching instruments could be heard on Otley Chevin last weekend.
Flamboyantly dressed Morris dancers gathered on the hill on Saturday, January 5 to take part in the old ritual of wassailing - which involves dancing, drinking cider, and singing to apple trees.
Wharfedale Wayzgoose moved on to other locations in Otley, including the community garden on Inglewood Drive and Gallows Hill Nature Reserve, after holding their first wassail on the Chevin at noon.
At each spot the dozens of people who attended were encouraged to make lots of noise to ‘ward off bad spirits’ and promote a good harvest for the coming year.
Founding member of Wharfedale Wayzgoose, Anita Walker, said: “The volunteers on the Chevin did an amazing job making us feel welcome, and we were chuffed with the number of people who came to join us.
“There was mulled apple juice, cake, a bonfire and plenty of noise - a fabulous event! Thank you to everyone who came to the wassail and huge thanks to the volunteers on the Chevin.”
Visit www.wharfedale-wayzgoose.co.uk for more.
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