Apple growers in Somerset prepare for Wassail

[icymist]

Wassailing is an ancient pagan tradition held on Old Twelfth Night which falls on 17 January.

Although many are held on this date, others observe the Gregorian calendar where Twelfth Night falls on 6 January.

The Wassail is held to scare off worms and maggots that are regarded as 'evil' spirits and to attract the 'good' spirit embodied by the robin.

The ceremony takes place around the oldest orchard tree where it is toasted and traditional Wassail songs are sung.

The noisiest part of the ceremony is after the singing when gunshots are fired into the orchards (although this particular practice isn't always followed everywhere) to create as much noise as possible to scare off the evil spirits.
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