We wrote in  Issue 12 about the old Devon custom of Wassailing - an ancient expression derived from Wass Hal meaning "Be thou of good cheer". Between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night, jugs of cider were carried out into the cider orchards so that people could drink  the health of the cider apple trees. More cider was poured over the roots of the trees to ensure an even better crop next season and little pieces of cake were dipped in the cider and left in the branches as thanksgiving to the spirits of the trees.

It has been estimated that by 1877, some 24,000 acres were being used for cider cultivation in Devon - almost as much as the rest of the UK added together. Lager has replaced it as a drink today but even so, the modern traveller will always find traces of the orchards, large and small, which so conveniently provided an alcoholic beverage for the farmer's family and his workers. In the 19th century, many farm labourers were compelled to take part of their wages in  cider which is very potent stuff; consequently, they were drunk more often than not, so all kinds of good properties were attributed to cider to make its drinking more socially-acceptable. One of these ideas was that cider caused people to live longer.

"I were brought up on cider

And I be a hundred and two!

But still that be nothin' when you come to think

Me father and mother be still in the pink -

And they were brought up on cider

Of the rare old Tavistock brew;

And me Granfer drinks quarts

For he's one of the sports

That were brought up on cider too."

Cider was not the only means to hand for those who sought to celebrate Christmas in a haze of alcohol - there were no taxes to pay to the Exchequer before the 20th century and in the towns there was plenty of cheap ale, and gin could be had for 2d a pint. Consequently, there were some rough and rowdy scenes in the streets. William Perriam of Exeter came before the Bench on Boxing Day 1866 charges with some very traditional Christmas conduct!

From the Western Times, 28 December 1866:

"William Perriam was charged with creating a disturbance and assaulting P.C.Milford in Guinea Street on Christmas Eve. The officer, hearing a babel of sounds in that quarter at 12.45, paid it a visit, when he found the defendant actively abetting the confusion. Being requested to move on, he refused and repaid the caution given to him with cuffs. He and others set upon the officer with such violence that they had likely to have made mince meat of him. The noise of the row brought Inspector Dunning to the rescue, hearing the cry of "Give et tu un, give et tu un!"*

The Defendant was seized, and after much resistance, lodged in the lock-up. Charles Wood, a newsvendor of Milk Street, proved seeing the defendant strike the policeman and knock off his hat. As to the rows, they occurred there almost every night of the week, so disorderly was it in that quarter.

Defendant said that hearing singing, he went on a tour of South Street, looking to join in, thinking they were the regular singers** and there he was encountered by the officer. It was all his fault.