There’s help for your apple trees in the new year. Originally a pagan celebration to bring on spring, it evolved in Anglo-Saxon times to Wassail, from the greeting Wæs þu hæl ‘be thou hale,’ or in other words ‘be in good health.’ Intended to wake the apple trees from their dormancy, bless the coming year’s crops and protect orchards from evil spirits or witches, it took place on Twelfth Night, 5th January.