What does it mean to go wassailing?
There are two variations of wassailing.
One involves groups of merrymakers going from one house to another, wassail bowl in hand, singing traditional songs and generally spreading fun and good wishes.
The practice of house-wassailing continued in England throughout the Middle Ages, as a way by which lord of the manor could demonstrate charitable seasonal goodwill to those who served him, by gifting money and food in exchange for the wassailers blessing and songs;
“Love and joy come to you,
and to you your wassail to;
and God bless you and send you
a happy New Year.”
The other form of wassailing is generally practiced in the countryside, particularly in fruit growing regions, where the trees are blessed.
