What does wassailing mean in English?

Definition of wassail (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : an early English toast to someone’s health. 2 : a hot drink that is made with wine, pint, or cider, spices, sugar, and usually baked apples and is traditionally served in a large bowl especially at Christmastime. 3 : riotous drinking : revelry.

What is the tradition of wassailing?

Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition that has been practised in Britain for centuries. It has its roots in a pagan custom of visiting orchards to sing to the trees and spirits in the hope of ensuring a good harvest the following season.

When you go wassailing What is it that you are doing?

The wassailing, or blessing of the fruit trees, involves drinking and singing to the health of the trees in the hope that they will provide a bountiful harvest in the autumn.

Why is it called wassail?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “wassail” originated as a borrowing from the Old Norse salutation ves heill, corresponding to Old English hál wes þú or wes hál – literally meaning ‘be in good health’ or ‘be fortunate’.

What does wassailing have to do with Christmas?

Wassailing and Yulesinging The lord of the manor would give food and drink to the peasants in exchange for their blessing and goodwill, i.e. … Wassailing is the background practice against which an English carol such as “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” can be made sense of.

Who invented wassail?

One legend about how Wassailing was created, says that a beautiful Saxon maiden named Rowena presented Prince Vortigen with a bowl of wine while toasting him with the words ‘waes hael’. Over the centuries, a great deal of ceremony developed around the custom of drinking wassail.

When did wassailing begin?

The first wassail bowls and cups made from Lignum vitae appear to have been made in Britain in the second quarter of the 17th century.

What is wassailing the apple trees?

The ancient tradition of apple wassailing, in which trees are protected from evil spirits to ensure a plentiful crop, has seen a resurgence in recent years. The custom, which dates back to pagan times, involves people pouring cider over tree roots, singing songs, making loud noises and making a toast.

When you go wassailing What is it that you are doing?

The wassailing, or blessing of the fruit trees, involves drinking and singing to the health of the trees in the hope that they will provide a bountiful harvest in the autumn.

How do you say the word wassail?

What is a wassail event?

Wassailing is an annual tradition to bless orchards to ensure a good harvest for the year to come. The celebrations involve music, song, dancing and a recognition of what orchards give to us. … Orchards serve as a reminder of this, as trees grow new leaves, blossom in spring and povide fruit in summer.

How do you celebrate wassailing?

What generally happens is that pieces of toast soaked in cider are placed around the oldest or finest tree in the orchard, cider is poured round the base then shot guns are fired into the upper branches, buckets are beaten and a general cacophony of noise made to scare away evil spirits and wake the sleeping trees.

What do you call a group of people who go from door to door singing Christmas songs?

The idea of Christmas caroling brings to mind jolly bands of churchgoers, dressed in shawls and top hats, going door-to-door, also known as wassailing — an Old Norse term — to spread the spirit of Christmas through hymns.

Can you buy wassail?

Wassail Drink Mix-Three Kings – Walmart.com.

Which saint introduced carols in churches?

St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi introduced Christmas Carols to formal church services.

Where did the drink wassail come from?

The term “wassail” can trace its origins to pre-Christian Britain. Anglo-Saxon tradition included a New Year celebration in the halls of the Lord of the Manor, including a mighty feast with a giant bowl of a sort of punch: a mix of cider, ale and mead infused with bountiful spices and crab apples.