A seemingly annual tradition now – tomorrow marks the arrival of The Green Man at London’s Bankside and a celebration of the 12th Night festivities.

Although Twelfth Night took place a couple of days ago, the celebrations at Bankside are on a day more convenient to modern work patterns – a Sunday.

The event starts at around 12:45, with a fairly wide margin for error, when a motor boat comes down the Thames, usually circles around a few times, then lands by the river steps beside the Globe Theatre, where the grandly decorated Green Man disembarks, along with his entourage and blesses an Apple tree.

Hello!

More blessings at the gates to The Globe, then along to the pier steps which make for a suitable “stage” to put on a Mummers Play. At the end of the play, cakes are distributed – a bean and a pea hidden in two of them. Those who find them are hailed King and Queen for the day and crowned with ceremony.

After that, they parade down to Southwark.

I’ve been a couple of times, and it is a good mix of contemporary pagan traditions, along with a play that delights the children.

King Bean and Queen Pea

There will be more Wassailing next Sunday – this time in Willesden Green.

NEWSLETTER

Be the first to know what's on in London, and the latest news published on ianVisits.

You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails.

Tagged with:
SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles.

It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising.

Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver, every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website, and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts.

If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here.

Thank you

One comment
  1. JohnHB says:

    ….. so did you go a-wassailing …. ?

Home >> News >> Events and Tours