The root of the word ‘wassail’ in Old English stems from “waes hael,” an Anglo-Saxon toast meaning “be in good health.” The event is based on traditional customs of blessing crops and orchard trees. There has been a significant revival of these traditions as people seek connections to nature, sustainability and heritage. Wassails are enjoying something of a renaissance!
Wassails celebrate orchard culture and involve the practice of blessing fruit trees for a bountiful harvest. They include an array of associated events such as singing to the trees, banging pots and pans to chase away bad spirits, pouring cider on tree roots and tying bits of bread or toast to trees for robins, who represent the ‘good spirits’ of the tree. The festivities often involve Morris dancing or a ceilidh.

The ceremony traditionally takes place early to mid January. At Darwin Nurseries, part of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, there is an established orchard on site, which serves as a place for community gatherings, shared traditions and nature-based events. Their big event of the year is their Apple Day, which attracted 1,000 visitors in autumn 2024, but in January they run a small wassail for staff and co-workers. The wassail provides an opportunity for staff to gather at the orchard and celebrate the year ahead.

Although wassails are a more niche winter celebration compared to Christmas or New Year’s Eve, there is a growing need to build a culture around sustainable farming practices, such as traditional orchards. The National Trust reports that more than half (56%) of orchards have been lost since the beginning of the 20th century. Planting fruit trees is vitally important for biodiversity, sustainability and cultural preservation. Orchards are hotspots for biodiversity, supporting both nationally rare and scarce species.
Orchards can be serene environments for mindfulness and connection with nature. See our Orchards for Health Seasonal calendar for other seasonal celebrations to integrate into your hospital orchard
Fundamentally, the joy of this event lies in gathering, fostering social ties and creating collective joy in what is arguably the bleakest month of the year. There is no “correct” way to wassail. The beauty of traditions is that they evolve and adapt to fit contemporary culture. What began as a rural agricultural tradition in the cider counties of Devon and Somerset can now serve as a tool for community building around newly planted orchards, even on hospital grounds. Reviving these traditions can inspire local communities to feel invested in their orchards.

Connecting to traditional practices also provides an excellent opportunity to perform tree maintenance. If your trees are established, mid-winter is the best time to prune Malus species (apples, pears, and quinces). Hosting a wassail event could be part of your winter maintenance or planting day. This year, the NHS Forest has hundreds of fully funded fruit trees available for the NHS estate. These trees are going quickly, so we recommend placing your order as soon as possible, as some varieties are already running low at the nursery.
Order our free fruit trees and learn more about orchard care and maintenance.