When?

November

Where?

Redruth

Redruth Wassail occurs on the last Saturday of November and is a revival of the town’s once popular wassail tradition. Like Bodmin Wassail, this is a “bowl and song visit” wassail, when large groups of “Warzailers” visit homes and businesses in the town, singing the Redruth wassail song. 

Tabb's Hotel in Fore Street, Redruth
Tabb's Hotel in Fore Street, Redruth (shown here in 1912) may well have been visited by wassailers. As well as a hotel, it served as a base for 'mine ticketing' (ore sales), had a dance floor and an arcade of shops, and was used for many public occasions. Reproduced courtesy of Paddy Bradley as featured on cornishmemory.com
Read more articles in our book.

This is different to the wassail tradition most people are familiar with, which involves pouring cider on the roots of apple trees. However, like other wassails in Cornwall, Redruth Wassail has a special song and tune. The wassailers dress in “mock formal” costume, including top hats decorated with seasonal greenery like holly and ivy. During the evening, they visit places like the local pubs, residential care homes and the nearby Oddfellows Lodge. 

The 'Redruth Bowl' was specially created for the event from local wood, and is decorated with pictures of local landmarks. During the rest of the year, the bowl is kept at the Oddfellows Lodge, with members acting as its guardians for the people of Redruth.

CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ARTICLE BY EMAILING YOUR IMAGES, VIDEOS OR TEXT TO CORNWALLFE@GMAIL.COM.

results

Suggested for you

Apple tree

Apple Wassailing

Read more
Heating punch for wassail

Bodmin Wassail

Read more
Bragg photo of a man eating a pasty in the Redruth area in 1906

Redruth Pasty Festival

Read more
Cornish wrestling match

Camborne Feast

Read more