Tjohn...Its all to do with the apples. Olde Englishe custom to assure a good crop in the following year. One makes offerings of cake, toast and cider to whatever deity may or may not lurk in ones apple grove. It is neccessary to liberally partake of the cider oneself, of course, while making these offerings. In other words, just one more excuse for a seasonal p**s-up.

The greatest part of wisdom is learning to develop  the ineffable genius of extracting the "neither here nor there" out of any situation...."