The flowering of snowdrops or milk flower is one of the first signs that winter is drawing to an end. As a result, the flower has long been viewed as a symbol of hope for better times ahead. However, to see a single snowdrop flower is a sign of impending death, probably due to its shape being like a shroud. It was also considered bad luck to take the flower into a house. 

There are two distinct variations of wassailing which was usually held on twelfth night, but now between late December and February. One involves groups of merrymakers going from one house to another, wassailing bowl in hand, singing traditional songs and generally spreading fun and good wishes – early carol singing? The other form of wassailing is generally practiced in the countryside, particularly in fruit growing regions, where it is the trees that are blessed in order to get a good harvest. A very noisy shindig involving Morris dancing and occasionally twelve bore shotguns!!

The Green Man is depicted by a green face or head with foliage growing from it. Often seen on pub signs and depicted in churches and cathedrals. A bit of an enigma but usually associated with the May Day celebrations when the Green Man and Ice Queen do battle, with the former always winning, to celebrate Spring

Holly, Ivy and other greenery were used during winter solstice celebrations to ward off evil spirits and celebrate new growth. In pagan times, Holly was thought to be the male plant and Ivy the female. So, if a wreath was placed on the front door, it was thought that the quantity of Holly or Ivy dictated who ruled in the house over the next year! You might not see them much nowadays but cabbages were previously used for Christmas decoration!