From Wikipedia: The ashen bundle (for the real name, recall what a bundle of stick is called) is an old English Christmas tradition from Devon and Somerset, similar to that of the Yule log and related to the wassail tradition (note from Jack: wassail was a ritual said to ensure a good apple harvest. This was latter moved to Xmas time for the big get together). The wassail party [3] passes around a bundle of ash sticks, twigs or branches—the remnant of the previous year’s faggot—bound with green ash withies, which is then placed onto the fire. It is done traditionally by the oldest person in the room. The heat created is a comfort in midwinter nights. As each binding bursts, the watchers toast it with a drink. Some traditions [4] had the unmarried women each choosing a withy, and the first one whose tie snapped would be married the next year. When the bindings have all burst and the bundle has fallen loose, each person who plans to host the festivities next year [5] takes one of the half-burned ash sticks and saves it until the following Christmas, when it will go in the centre of their own ashen faggot. This tradition symbolizes continuity of life and endures (or has been resurrected) in many places; according to an article in the Winter 2005 issue of Devon Talk, the Harbour Inn in Axmouth annually builds an ashen faggot six feet high and three feet wide for their huge pub fireplace. It was believed that any household that did not burn the ashen faggot would face years of bad luck and misfortune. [6] Some versions suggest that having an ashen faggot in the house kept the Devil and evil spirits away.
Apparently I cannot not mention the term for a bundle of sticks, which this clearly is. Could one of the mods kindly rename this thread bundle instead of hipster got, whatever that is.
Thanks Pete. We will be burning one of theses bundles this year, but I am a sucker for old traditions.
Criminy- not knowing any better, we've just been burning our ash firewood in the stove all these years. Someone should have told us about this...
