Wassailing

We tend to think of "Wassailing" as the old English tradition of going from house-to-house at Christmas with a wassail bowl either offering a drink and expecting a gratuity in return, or simply expecting the bowl to be filled with drink.  This is accurate, but Wassailing was more than that. The term "wassail" comes from the Anglo-Saxon toast waes hael, which means "good health." The customary reply when such a kind wish was proffered upon one was to reply drinc heil, or "drink well." Equally important, however, was the time-honored tradition of wassailing the farm animals and fruit trees, the idea being that drinking to the health of the livestock or the crops would ensure bounteous production in the coming year.

There are many old Wassailing songs, among them the following verses which illustrate the practice of drinking a toast to the farm animals, as well as the jovial (and doubtless inebriated) going from house to house seeking a drink at Christmastide.

Wassail, Wassail

Wassail, Wassail, all over the town!
Our toast it is white, and our ale it is brown,
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,
Pray God send our master a good piece of beef,
And good piece of beef that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Dobbin and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,
And good Christmas pie that may we all see;
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

So here is to Broad May and her broad horn,
May God send our master a good crop of corn,
And a good crop of corn that may we all see;
With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Fillpail and her left ear,
Pray God send our master a happy New Year,
And a happy New Year as e'er he did see;
With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee.

And here is to Colly and to her long tail,
Pray God send our master he never may fail,
A bowl of strong beer; I pray you draw near,
And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear.

Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best,
Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest;
But if you do draw us a bowl of the small,
Then down shall go butler, bowl and all.

Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock!
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers in.
- Anonymous