Wassail

Wassail is a hot drink made with mulled cider, spices, and sugar. The drink is topped with slices of toasted sop bread and it is traditionally drunk on Yuletide from a large wassailing bowl. It is the essential part of wassailing - a Medieval Christmas English drinking ritual done to ensure a successful cider apple harvest in the upcoming year.

The word wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase was hael meaning good health. Another variant of this drink is Lambs Wool, made with mulled ale, baked crab apples, sugar, and spices. The name comes from the frothy appearance that the apple pulp imparts on the drink.

In the olden times, wassailing was done on New Year’s Eve, but the wealthier people could afford to have wassail on all 12 days of Christmas. Over time, the tradition of wassailing developed into a large ceremony with the large bowl being carried into the room with great fanfare, while a traditional carol about the drink was sung, and finally, the steaming hot wassail was served.