Wassailing

Wassailing comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxons and is done in two forms; one for visiting neighbours and one for visiting orchards. The visiting neighbours wassail was for groups to go from door to door, sing songs to the household and be invited for a hot drink before moving on. The orchard visiting wassail was for encouraging a good harvest for the next year. Both events were done on twelfth night (evening of January 5th). The visiting households wassail turned into carolling once the Christian religion spread through England and the orchard visiting wassail was practised less and less. The toast given for a wassail translates to "be in good health".

A friend of ours invited us, others and family for a wassail and to toast their apple and pear trees. Even though it was well after twelfth night, I don't think the trees minded and good food and fun was had by all.