wassailing…


Hold up. What on earth is a wassail? Well, I have answers. But first:

Look at this afternoon’s lovely skyset! J’adore!


Okay, back to wassailing. Allow me to consult my “Hearth & Home: Christmas Customs” book from the library, procured in the interest of further holiday crafts to keep me from EVER sleeping in the month of December, but with a surprise bonus of explaining the origins of Christmas traditions! How sneaky!


Ahem.


Wassailing is a custom that originated in the UK, entailing a rowdy bar crawl round of holiday cheer at others’ houses during the holidays. Tis the time to be jolly after all, so traveling minstrels would do this “wassailing,” singing carols and boisterously shouting “waes hael” as they clamored for the hard stuff. (note: waes hael translates to “be whole” or “be healthy.” I’m personally with them- I noted earlier that the only cure for my wretched random migraine was a little dram of “christmas spirit” to thin out the blood a little. A votre sante!) 


So back to my story. As these sots waddled around town shrieking, “waes HAEEEEL” they would hold out their empty bowls and demand hot spiced ales and wines as they entertained the poor unsuspecting homeowners. Hmm… this is sounding a bit like a weekend in Prague…


Is this still how people carol? If so, I want to take up caroling. perhaps professionally. It certainly deviates little from a go-round family christmas. I have, I must admit, had a strange obsession with “hot toddies” and what that entails, for some years now.


So, y’all, in the holiday “spirit” (last time I use that pun today, I promise) I will provide a recipe for one holiday wassail (it evolved into noun form at some point I guess) from said “Hearth & Home” book.


Ingredients:
-peel of one lemon
-3 slices peeled fresh gingerroot
-1 stick cinnamon
-1 teaspoon whole allspice
-6 cups dry red wine or cranberry juice
-6 cups apple cider
-1/2 cup sugar
– 2 oranges, unpeeled, cut into 6 wedges each
-36 whole cloves


Yields 12 cups (party time)


1. Create sachet (cheesecloth or coffee filter) filled with lemon peel, gingerroot, cinnamon, allspice and tie with string, long enough to hang from pot.
2. In 6 qt. dutch oven, combine wine, apple cider, sugar. Add sachet. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover, and reduce to medium low. Simmer for 15 minutes, and remove sachet. Keep wassail warm over low heat.
3. While wassail simmers, stick 3 whole cloves into peel side of each orange wedge. Place one wedge into each serving cup and pour hot wassail over top.
4. Imbibe, singing to meri-go-round’s health, happiness, and upcoming christmas present bounty. hehe.


Well, I’m off a wassailing, at least to the kitchen…


Cheers!
Meri