Wassail is a traditional Pagan winter celebration in cider-producing regions of England, reciting incantations and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. Pieces of toast soaked in cider are hung in the branches to attract robins to the tree as these are said to be the good spirits of the orchard. To ward off evil spirits, villagers scare them away by banging pots and pans and making as much noise as possible.
