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Wassailing in Devon (1861).
Wassailing is a traditional practice in Anglosphere countries on Twelfth Night (night of Jan 5th-6th). It originated from the Old English Waes Hael (meaning "be well" or "good health).
It involves folk ceremonies at orchards, singing to the trees and making lots of noise to wake them up. Wassails are traditional songs used at these events, often with local flavour. Recently, the tradition has also returned to the U.S. east coast.
Wassailing also used to involve going door-to-door singing and offering drink, but this has been largely superseded by carol singing. This second practice hints, though, at wassailing's greater purpose: a community event to bring cheer in the depths of winter.
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