This piece looks like an addition to an existing set of personal items for Deek, but actually it is a piece along with its blue counterpart that got our interest in paganism going. Much fed up with Christmas and its meaningless, but doggedly Christian remnant of a festival, not uncommon with older gay men without parents or children, we had begun to explore doing our own thing. Wassail is not Christian and reflects as do more things than the religions would admit pagan pre-bible based traditions. These are very reflective of the cycles of the year and connection to the landscape.
The Blue Waissail Cup goes with Lan’s character. Lan is a Ferryman and brings all sorts of moon and water into the story. Of course blue for night colours and water is an obvious connection for this character.
We’re sure Wassail was not Neolithic although celebrations of a similar nature no doubt are. Wassail is about drinking hot mulled cider and singing in community for fun, and pouring some of that cider onto cider apples to encourage the next years crop. We note that this is very reminiscent of giving thanks to nature, after a spell using nature has been made, in modern versions of witchcraft which seem very in tune with Neolithic times. It is the nature of returning what we take from nature, honouring that deep connection we have. True often of hunter gatherers cultures and just that place we feel comes from being out there connected to nature in a sustainable way.
Mike also researched some time ago British ceramics and there are in quite a few museums ceramic communal cups, the simplest two handle. These were used in communal festivities where some drink would be shared. It seemed perfect to make some Earthwaves Wassail cups. The Lan and Deek development follows naturally from them, although they are nothing quite like we’ve seen of Neolithic pottery, apart from the coloured glazes could easily be.
Needless to say Mike now has two cider apple trees growing in his Sacred Garden that we planted together.