Apple Wassail

The first recorded mention was at Fordwich, Kent, in 1585, by which time groups of young men would go between orchards performing the rite for a reward.

The Blackhand Cyder Society in the village of Denton, Norfolk has developed its own version with a local maiden performing the blessing.

Then they would make lots of noise, singing, banging pots and pans together, and firing off guns, to scare away any malignant spirits in the orchard.

[5][6] Prominent recordings include ones by The Watersons (1975), John Kirkpatrick (1995), Boiled in Lead (2008), Jon Boden (2016), The Dreadnoughts (2023), and Oli Steadman (2024).

So that every bough and every twig May bend with a burden both fair and big May ye bear us and yield us fruit such a stors That the bags and chambers and house run o'er.

Stand fast root, bear well top Pray the God send us a howling good crop.

Bud well, bear well God send you fare well; Every sprig and every spray A bushel of apples next New Year Day.