Launching a Local Wassailing Tradition!
This winter season, join Rogue World Music in the ancient and festive tradition of WASSAILING!
Folk traditions like wassailing (British Isles) and kolyada (Ukraine) were born out of a time when all people sang as part of daily life. We invite you to come experience singing in community, lifting each other up with our voices, making a joyful noise!
Friday, December 1st. 5 - 7 pm. Starting on Ashland's downtown plaza then traveling in song to many of Ashland's downtown businesses.
Saturday, December 16th. 4 - 6 pm. Traveling in song to many of Talent's downtown businesses and the Winter Talent Craft Crawl, ending with 30 minutes of song on Wagner Plaza to kick off Talent Maker City's annual Lights on Bikes Celebration.
Led by Ruth Hoffecker, of Ashland School of Uncovering the Voice, this project combines traditional folk songs that celebrate the turning of the seasons and creating an inviting singing community where for all.
“We are taking a very old practice (seasonal communal singing of good wishes or blessings) that spans many countries and cultures, and letting this historically-wide practice inform our own connecting in community through song.” - Ruth Hoffecker.
All singing experience levels are invited - including folks who have always thought 'I can't sing.'
All ages are welcome.
All voices are welcome.
Participation levels of all types are welcome. (Singing everything, singing just the choruses, clapping along, humming, etc.)
Want to practice a little ahead of time or a little support unlocking your voice?
Attend one, some, or all of our open wassailing rehearsals. At these rehearsals you’ll get to:
Start by warming up and “loosening” your voice with fun exercises.
Learn about each song’s history and meaning.
Learn the melody and lyrics of each song.
Sing in a group with others - it’s fun!
Attend rehearsal at Aryze Hot Yoga studio. 330 Oak St. Ashland, OR 97520.
A bit about wassailing…
Historically, the tradition of wassailing in the British Isles goes back centuries…
'“Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition, with pagan roots, practiced in Britain for centuries.” - The United Kingdom National Trust
The term ‘wassail’ derives from the Anglo-Saxon phrase “waes hael” or “good health.”
In the winter, communities gathered to sing blessings on their communities, neighbors, and/or the natural world. In agricultural areas, fruit trees - especially apple trees- were sung to, and blessed with both song and splashes of cider. While wassailing traditions varied regionally, they all were a moment for folks to gather and sing together in acts of good will.
In some locations in the British Isles, wassailing traditionally took place over the entire span of the during the 12 days of Christmas (Christmas Day to Epiphany Eve/Twelfth Night/January 5). In others, it was specifically held on the eve of Epiphany.
A similar tradition, koliada/kolyada, has roots in slavic cultures throughout Eastern Europe…
including the Ukraine, Northern Greece, Croatia, and Poland. The word koliada/kolyada is connected to both the Christmas story and the pre-Christian celebration of the birth of the New Sun and to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Koliadky are songs (similar to Christmas carols) sung between Christmas and New Years Eve. Schedrivky are songs that invoke prosperity, health, and good fortune, and are sung between New Year’s and The Feast of Jordan/Epiphany/January 6th.