Amazing photographs have shown Boris Johnson at a Morris dancing festival.
The former Prime Minister, 59, was photographed with his wife Carrie Johnson and their child taking part in a Wassail Ceremony at the Jubilee Orchard in Oxfordshire on Saturday.
Mr Johnson could be seen with one of his children on his shoulders as he wore a grey jacket with a blue woolen hat.
Later, Mr Johnson was photographed walking his dog Dilyn as he marched with fellow observers, some of whom engaged in shooting during the ceremony.
According to the National Trust, a wassail ceremony or – wassailing – “is an annual tradition of blessing orchards to ensure a good harvest for the year to come”.
They added: “This Anglo-Saxon celebration, involving music, song and dancing, traditionally took place on Twelfth Night. Nowadays, wassails are hosted between late December and February.”
The wassail normally begins with a procession down to the orchard, this procession is normally led by a wassail King or Queen. Once in the orchard, the crowd gathers around the oldest tree and they place pieces of toast into this. According to the National Trust, this is to “entice the robins” who are “believed to be the guardians of the orchard”.
While toast is placed in the tree, cider is poured around its roots and pots and pans are banged together to ward off evil spirits and “wake up” the trees from winter.
After this, the crowd serenades the tree with traditional songs and chants; it is at this point that the Morris dancing begins before the wassail drink is consumed. This drink can either be a cider blended with honey and spices or a local ale.
While Mr Johnson appeared to have an interest in events concerning the Wassail, he isn’t the only one. On TripAdvisor, Amber S S described her Wassail at Fort Amherst. She said: “I was very lucky and felt very privileged to be able to help out and take part in the Fort’s very first Wassail!
“The revived ancient custom of waking the apple and fruit trees after the long dark winter. The fort has a number of newly planted Apple trees, especially for this custom! “Alongside the Blessing of the Apple trees with the canon and musket fire finale, there was the wonderful Wolfshead & Vixen Morris side, plus 3 mummers plays and storytelling.
“The evening was rounded off by the absolutely amazing local folk band “Larkspur”. A great ending to a great night! And those who stayed till the very end I’m sure would agree. The tunnels at the fort are very atmospheric so a great venue for such an event!”
