Wassailing is a centuries-old British tradition for marking the New Year, where a group of people walk round their neighbourhood singing special songs called "wassails". Traditionally, the wassailing has two strands - going from door to door being welcomed in local houses, and blessing apple trees and beehives so that they are fruitful and productive in the coming year. There are old recipes for wassail drinks to go with these activities, and descriptions of "wassail cups" which are the vessels out of which these would have been drunk. These traditions still continue unbroken in some parts of Britain, such as Cornwall. In other areas, it has been revived more recently, and it is common for these celebrations to take place on, or close to, January 17th, the "old" New Year's Eve. http:// http:// http:// |
