Burning the Bush

This is a tradition that is held at the very start of January, or during twelfth night celebrations and is found in places such as Hereford and Worcester. 13 bonfires are lit, a main central one surrounded by twelve smaller ones. When all the bonfires are lit a hawthorn globe is filled with straw and then thrown on the central fire. As it burns a new globe is constructed and doused in cider and then scorched within the embers of the of the central bonfire. A chant of Old Cider is then given nine times after which the hawthorn globe is put away till the following year.

http://www.homestead.com/englishheathenism/folkcustoms.html