Here We Come A Wassailing

The Sounds of a Canadian Christmas

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If the sight of Yuletide trimmings did not convince you that Christmas was just around the corner; the sounds of the season, as friends, family and even passers-by,  exchanged good wishes, and Carolers sang the old favourites, would certainly put you in the spirit of the season.

This brings us to an old English custom that took place during the twelve days of Christmas, known as wassailing. Wassail is an ale-based drink seasoned with spices and honey, which was served in large bowls.  Silver and pewter if you could afford them, but any large bowl would do the trick.

This bowl is passed around for everyone to take a sip and shout "Wassail",  or "Waes Hael", an  Old English term meaning "be well". Beginning about the fifteenth century in Enland, it was customary that; at the start of each year; the lord of the manor would shout 'waes hael'. The assembled crowd would reply 'drinc hael', meaning 'drink and be healthy'.  Then as time went on, the tradition was carried on by people going from door to door, with their wassail bowls of hot, spiced ale; singing and spreading good cheer. The contents of the bowl varied, but one of the most popular drinks was called Lambswool, which was ale, baked apples, sugar, spices, eggs, and cream served with little pieces of bread or toast. It was the bread floating on the top that made it look like lamb's wool.

Here We Come a Wassailing

Here we come a-wassailing Among the leaves so green, Here we come a-wassailing, So fair to be seen:

Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too, And God bless you and send you, A happy New Year, And God send you, A happy new year.

Another custom associated with the tradition with was to sprinkle your apple treese with wassail, to ensure a good crop.  Villagers would gather around the apple trees with shotguns or pots and pans and make a tremendous racket to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and scare off demons. A toast was then drunk from the Wassail Cup.

Apple Tree Wassail Oh apple tree, we'll wassail thee And hoping thou wilt bear For the Lord does know where we may go To be merry another year To grow well and to bear well And so merrily let us be Let every man drink up his glass And a health to the old apple tree Brave boys, and a health to the old apple tree

Canadian Christmas Continued

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