Folktracks Live at Passim
On the eighth of January (a historic date) Folktracks Live! will feature an evening with a band that’s become a New England tradition unto itself: the Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society featuring both Diane Taraz and Lynn Noel! The eighth of January is not only the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans (cue Johnny Horton), it's also the first Monday after Twelfth Night — which makes it Plough Monday. So we'll celebrate with a traditional (more or less) Plough Play!
Background
"Plough Monday is the traditional start of the English agricultural year. Falling on the Monday between 8 January and 14 January, it is the day after Plough Sunday (which is the Sunday after Twelfth Night — 6 January). The day traditionally saw the resumption of work after the Christmas period. In some areas, a plough was hauled along and gifts were distributed to farmworkers. It is now mainly associated with revived celebrations which include Molly dancing." --Wikipedia
"The Plough Jacks went round to each house on Plough Monday (the first Monday after Twelfth Night). The order of going was to have two ploughlines parallel, and short sticks between at intervals - to each stick a man, for the 'horses.' Then came the 'Waggoner' driving them, with a long whip and an inflated pig's bladder on the end of the lash - next came the plough, which they trailed: a plough without wheels and ready for ploughing. Having arrived at a house they demanded entrance civilly. If allowed in, they performed their play and were regaled with food and drink. If they were told to be gone, then they ploughed up the scraper, and a furrow or two in front o the house if the owner was objectionable. If the owner came out after them, he was set on with besom shafts, etc., that they carried ready for such emergencies. They went as far afield as 8 miles, and spent the whole night on the job, never ceasing until time for work in the morning." http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/88sk99re.htm
Peter Millington of folkplay.info provides a comparison of the several variant types of plough plays and a discussion of the origins of Plough Monday.
Text & Cast
South Scarle Plough Monday Play, 1882
http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/88sk86jh.htm
Full Text for Somerset Wassail (closing song)
http://www.bcpl.net/~hutmanpr/wassong.html#SOMERSET
MIDI for Somerset Wassail
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5567/158a.mid
As sung by Artisan
http://acappella.colormaria.com/8587C/8587C%5ESomerset_Wassail.mp3