Don’t be spooked if you see hundreds of people marching into the woods with flame-lit torches, banging drums and chanting folk tunes this weekend. Although it might look like something from medieval England, it is nothing to fear – just village folk coming together to celebrate the pagan ritual of wassail. The ancient tradition has been practised across the country for hundreds of years with the first recorded event held in Fordwich, near Canterbury, in 1585. Taking place on the twelfth night after Christmas, wassailing typically involves visiting an orchard – usually one growing apples or pea…
