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A combination of pictures created on January 29, 2022, shows members of the Hook Eagle Morris Men posing for a portrait ahead of the annual Wassail in the Community Orchard in Whitchurch, 60 miles west of London. The event, held near to twelfth night, celebrates both the passing of Christmas and the future good health of the fruit trees. Traditionally the custom involved the local farm workers visiting the orchard after dark with shotguns, horns, food and a large pail of cider. They would make a loud noise to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and to scare off demons. Cider would be poured over the roots and pieces of toast placed in the branches as a gift to the spirit of the tree. The wassail song is sung as a blessing or charm to bring fruitfulness or even in admonishment not to fail in the upcoming year. Having started from humble beginnings in 1991, the Hook Eagle Morris Men perform dances in the Border Morris style, and are now universally regarded as the best mens Border Morris side in all Hampshire. By a strange twist of coincidences, they are also the only men's Border Morris side in all Hampshire. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP Photo)
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