Wassailing Goes Back to Pre-Christian Times in a Tradition Meant to Bring Luck for the Coming Year

houses gave them drink, money and Christmas food. Christmas and money drink, them gave houses

to the health of those they visited. In return, people in the the in people return, In visited. they those of health the to

wassail bowl filled with spiced ale and sang and drank drank and sang and ale spiced with filled bowl wassail

regions, the wassailers went from door to door, with a a with door, to door from went wassailers the regions,

hael,’ meaning ‘drink and be healthy.’ In cider producing producing cider In healthy.’ be and ‘drink meaning hael,’

‘waes hael.’ The assembled crowd would reply ‘drinc ‘drinc reply would crowd assembled The hael.’ ‘waes

start of each year, the Saxon lord of the manor would shout shout would manor the of lord Saxon the year, each of start

Old English term “waes hael,” meaning “be well.” At the the At well.” “be meaning hael,” “waes term English Old

to bring luck for the coming year. Wassail gets its name from the the from name its gets Wassail year. coming the for luck bring to Wassailing goes back to pre-Christian times in a tradition meant meant tradition a in times pre-Christian to back goes Wassailing

Wassailing goes back to pre-Christian times in a tradition meant to bring luck for the coming year. Wassail gets its name from the Old English term “waes hael,” meaning “be well.” At the start of each year, the Saxon lord of the manor would shout ‘waes hael.’ The assembled crowd would reply ‘drinc hael,’ meaning ‘drink and be healthy.’ In cider producing regions, the wassailers went from door to door, with a wassail bowl filled with spiced ale and sang and drank to the health of those they visited. In return, people in the houses gave them drink, money and Christmas food.

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was not a widespread tradition to give each other gifts. other each give to tradition widespread a not was

tithe was given to the landowner. Note, however, it it however, Note, landowner. the to given was tithe

Christmas Day was also the day on which a gift or or gift a which on day the also was Day Christmas

(what we often call marzipan), and gingerbread. gingerbread. and marzipan), call often we (what

in 1550), along with plum pudding, march pane pane march pudding, plum with along 1550), in

been brought to England from the New World World New the from England to brought been

head. You might also have turkey (which had had (which turkey have also might You head.

trip to church, followed by a lavish dinner of boar’s boar’s of dinner lavish a by followed church, to trip Christmas Day in the Regency period might start with a a with start might period Regency the in Day Christmas

Christmas Day in the Regency period might start with a trip to church, followed by a lavish dinner of boar’s head. You might also have turkey (which had been brought to England from the New World in 1550), along with plum pudding, march pane (what we often call marzipan), and gingerbread. Christmas Day was also the day on which a gift or tithe was given to the landowner. Note, however, it was not a widespread tradition to give each other gifts.

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while making a secret wish. wish. secret a making while

in a clockwise direction, with eyes shut, shut, eyes with direction, clockwise a in

Christ’s crib) is used. The stirring must be be must stirring The used. is crib) Christ’s

a special wooden spoon (in honor of of honor (in spoon wooden special a

must take a hand in the stirring, and and stirring, the in hand a take must

up” on Stir-Up Day. All family members members family All Day. Stir-Up on up” The Christmas pudding is traditionally “stirred “stirred traditionally is pudding Christmas The

The Christmas pudding is traditionally “stirred up” on Stir-Up Day. All family members must take a hand in the stirring, and a special wooden spoon (in honor of Christ’s crib) is used. The stirring must be in a clockwise direction, with eyes shut, while making a secret wish.

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Christmas get-together. get-together. Christmas

popular games played during a Regency Regency a during played games popular Bobbing for apples and charades were were charades and apples for Bobbing

Bobbing for apples and charades were popular games played during a Regency Christmas get-together.

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aristocrat’s pocket or between courses at a banquet. a at courses between or pocket aristocrat’s

were a luxury good, most likely to be found in an an in found be to likely most good, luxury a were

of machine innovations, comfits or sugar plums plums sugar or comfits innovations, machine of

were time consuming to make. Until the advent advent the Until make. to consuming time were

caraway or cardamom seeds at the center. They They center. the at seeds cardamom or caraway

Sugar plums, or comfits, were most often made with with made often most were comfits, or plums, Sugar

candy called “dragee” or more commonly “comfit.” “comfit.” commonly more or “dragee” called candy “Sugar plums” were not really plums, but a type of of type a but plums, really not were plums” “Sugar

“Sugar plums” were not really plums, but a type of candy called “dragee” or more commonly “comfit.” Sugar plums, or comfits, were most often made with caraway or cardamom seeds at the center. They were time consuming to make. Until the advent of machine innovations, comfits or sugar plums were a luxury good, most likely to be found in an aristocrat’s pocket or between courses at a banquet.

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by friends and baked in dozens to strengthen the charm. the strengthen to dozens in baked and friends by

months of the new year. But the pies must be offered offered be must pies the But year. new the of months

Christmas to ensure good luck for the twelve twelve the for luck good ensure to Christmas

were eaten every day for the Twelve Days of of Days Twelve the for day every eaten were

the leftovers of the Christmas dinner. The pies pies The dinner. Christmas the of leftovers the

Night Pie because it was originally made with with made originally was it because Pie Night

apples and brandy. This was also called Twelfth Twelfth called also was This brandy. and apples

spices, orange peel, goose, tongue, fowls, eggs, eggs, fowls, tongue, goose, peel, orange spices,

usually included beef, suet, sugar, raisins, lemons, lemons, raisins, sugar, suet, beef, included usually Mince, or Christmas pie, varied by region, but ingredients ingredients but region, by varied pie, Christmas or Mince,

Mince, or Christmas pie, varied by region, but ingredients usually included beef, suet, sugar, raisins, lemons, spices, orange peel, goose, tongue, fowls, eggs, apples and brandy. This was also called Twelfth Night Pie because it was originally made with the leftovers of the Christmas dinner. The pies were eaten every day for the Twelve Days of Christmas to ensure good luck for the twelve months of the new year. But the pies must be offered by friends and baked in dozens to strengthen the charm.

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also a traditional day for fox hunting. fox for day traditional a also

on the following Monday. Boxing Day was was Day Boxing Monday. following the on

Saturday or Sunday, Boxing Day took place place took Day Boxing Sunday, or Saturday

the day off, and if December 26 fell on a a on fell 26 December if and off, day the

previous year. The servants were often given given often were servants The year. previous

good service the day before and during the the during and before day the service good

in boxes to their servants on December 26 for for 26 December on servants their to boxes in In Regency time the upper classes presented gifts gifts presented classes upper the time Regency In

In Regency time the upper classes presented gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26 for good service the day before and during the previous year. The servants were often given the day off, and if December 26 fell on a Saturday or Sunday, Boxing Day took place on the following Monday. Boxing Day was also a traditional day for fox hunting.

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pcs cub, lu, gs ml ad brandy. and milk eggs, flour, crumbs, spices,

raisins, currants, citron, lemon and orange peels, peels, orange and lemon citron, currants, raisins,

Usual ingredients included suet, brown sugar, sugar, brown suet, included ingredients Usual

ingredients, which was boiled in a pudding cloth. cloth. pudding a in boiled was which ingredients, Christmas pudding was a mixture of thirteen thirteen of mixture a was pudding Christmas

Christmas pudding was a mixture of thirteen ingredients, which was boiled in a pudding cloth. Usual ingredients included suet, brown sugar, raisins, currants, citron, lemon and orange peels, spices, crumbs, flour, eggs, milk and brandy.

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female fertility and as an antidote for poison. for antidote an as and fertility female

also used for medicinal purposes to promote promote to purposes medicinal for used also

homes to herald good fortune. The plants were were plants The fortune. good herald to homes

hope, peace, and harmony. Sprigs were hung in in hung were Sprigs harmony. and peace, hope,

of winter from the sacred oak as a symbol of of symbol a as oak sacred the from winter of

They gathered the parasitic plant at the start start the at plant parasitic the gathered They

century BC with the Druids in ancient Britain. Britain. ancient in Druids the with BC century The practice of gathering mistletoe began in the second second the in began mistletoe gathering of practice The

The practice of gathering mistletoe began in the second century BC with the Druids in ancient Britain. They gathered the parasitic plant at the start of winter from the sacred oak as a symbol of hope, peace, and harmony. Sprigs were hung in homes to herald good fortune. The plants were also used for medicinal purposes to promote female fertility and as an antidote for poison.

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of toys upon the table’ to hand out as gifts. as out hand to table’ the upon toys of

families. She had also arranged a ‘pyramid ‘pyramid a arranged also had She families.

Lodge, Windsor for the children of leading leading of children the for Windsor Lodge,

Regent, placed a decorated yew tree in Queen’s Queen’s in tree yew decorated a placed Regent,

of King George III and mother of the Prince Prince the of mother and III George King of In 1800, Queen Charlotte, the German-born wife wife German-born the Charlotte, Queen 1800, In

In 1800, Queen Charlotte, the German-born wife of King George III and mother of the Prince Regent, placed a decorated yew tree in Queen’s Lodge, Windsor for the children of leading families. She had also arranged a ‘pyramid of toys upon the table’ to hand out as gifts.

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burning their mouths. their burning

of a flaming bowl of brandy and then eat them without without them eat then and brandy of bowl flaming a of

centuries, required players to pluck raisins out out raisins pluck to players required centuries, 19 to

16 the during popular made game, parlour unusual

rousing game of Snap-dragon on Christmas Eve. The The Eve. Christmas on Snap-dragon of game rousing

themselves by extinguishing the lights and playing a a playing and lights the extinguishing by themselves The more adventurous Regency-era gentlemen entertained entertained gentlemen Regency-era adventurous more The

The more adventurous Regency-era gentlemen entertained themselves by extinguishing the lights and playing a rousing game of Snap-dragon on Christmas Eve. The unusual parlour game, made popular during the 16th to 19th centuries, required players to pluck raisins out of a flaming bowl of brandy and then eat them without burning their mouths.

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a bit of money for their efforts. their for money of bit a

or perform a short play with the hopes of pocketing pocketing of hopes the with play short a perform or

of lower class men dressed up in costumes to sing sing to costumes in up dressed men class lower of

mumming—an ancient tradition in which groups groups which in tradition ancient mumming—an A Regency Christmas often involved caroling and and caroling involved often Christmas Regency A

A Regency Christmas often involved caroling and mumming—an ancient tradition in which groups of lower class men dressed up in costumes to sing or perform a short play with the hopes of pocketing a bit of money for their efforts.

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boughs and Yule logs. logs. Yule and boughs

for Christmas in the Regency was evergreen evergreen was Regency the in Christmas for

holly—literally! The main source of decoration decoration of source main The holly—literally!

families did deck their halls with boughs of of boughs with halls their deck did families

adorned houses during the holidays, Regency Regency holidays, the during houses adorned Although no twinkle lights or Santa dolls dolls Santa or lights twinkle no Although

Although no twinkle lights or Santa dolls adorned houses during the holidays, Regency families did deck their halls with boughs of holly—literally! The main source of decoration for Christmas in the Regency was evergreen boughs and Yule logs.

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into a soft paste and dropped into tins to bake. bake. to tins into dropped and paste soft a into

butter, ginger and lemons that bakers combined combined bakers that lemons and ginger butter,

These tasty sweets contained flour, sugar, sugar, flour, contained sweets tasty These

Christmas. After Night the ‘Twas hardcover,

find referenced in my November holiday holiday November my in referenced find

treat during Regency times and one you’ll you’ll one and times Regency during treat Gingerbread rules/nuts were a favorite holiday holiday favorite a were rules/nuts Gingerbread

Gingerbread rules/nuts were a favorite holiday treat during Regency times and one you’ll find referenced in my November holiday hardcover, ‘Twas the Night After Christmas. These tasty sweets contained flour, sugar, butter, ginger and lemons that bakers combined into a soft paste and dropped into tins to bake.

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of holly, candles and a roaring fire in the hearth. the in fire roaring a and candles holly, of

roasting against the quaint yet festive backdrop backdrop festive yet quaint the against roasting

aroma of Christmas pudding baking and goose goose and baking pudding Christmas of aroma

of wassail steaming over a grate, the pungent pungent the grate, a over steaming wassail of

Regency, where gatherers will enjoy the smell smell the enjoy will gatherers where Regency, Welcome to the Christmas season during the the during season Christmas the to Welcome

Welcome to the Christmas season during the Regency, where gatherers will enjoy the smell of wassail steaming over a grate, the pungent aroma of Christmas pudding baking and goose roasting against the quaint yet festive backdrop of holly, candles and a roaring fire in the hearth.

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enjoy today: ice skating, sledding and sleighing. sleighing. and sledding skating, ice today: enjoy

participated in many activities much like we we like much activities many in participated People who braved the Regency winters winters Regency the braved who People

People who braved the Regency winters participated in many activities much like we enjoy today: ice skating, sledding and sleighing.

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Cake, Carmel Cake, Meringues, Guinea Fowl Guinea Meringues, Cake, Carmel Cake,

Snipes, Asparagus, Red Cabbage, Apricot Torte, Mushrooms, Ragoo Mele, Chantilla Chantilla Mele, Ragoo Mushrooms, Torte, Apricot Cabbage, Red Asparagus, Snipes,

Cauliflowers, Mince Pies, Cheesecakes, French Beans, Spinage, Pheasant, Pheasant, Spinage, Beans, French Cheesecakes, Pies, Mince Cauliflowers,

Partridges, Savoy Cake, Carmel Basket, Jerusalem Artichokes, Artichokes, Jerusalem Basket, Carmel Cake, Savoy Partridges,

Second Course Second

Roast Beef Roast

Petit Pate of Oysters, Souties of Mutton and Cucumbers, Giblet Soup, Soup, Giblet Cucumbers, and Mutton of Souties Oysters, of Pate Petit

Grenadines and Endives, Rabbits a la Portugueze and Sorrel Sauce, Sauce, Sorrel and Portugueze la a Rabbits Endives, and Grenadines

Soup Vermicelli, Bacon Chine, Chickens and Celery, Neat’s Tongue, Tongue, Neat’s Celery, and Chickens Chine, Bacon Vermicelli, Soup

of Lamb and Haricot Beans, Chickens a la Reine, Haunch of Venison, Venison, of Haunch Reine, la a Chickens Beans, Haricot and Lamb of

Foul a la Daube and Mushrooms, Sweetbreads and Asparagus Peas, A Leg Leg A Peas, Asparagus and Sweetbreads Mushrooms, and Daube la a Foul

Rice Soup, Turkey & Truffles, Beef Collops, Semels Souffle & Poivrade Sauce, A Sauce, Poivrade & Souffle Semels Collops, Beef Truffles, & Turkey Soup, Rice A Regency Christmas Menu Christmas Regency A

A Regency Christmas Menu Rice Soup, Turkey & Truffles, Beef Collops, Semels Souffle & Poivrade Sauce, A Foul a la Daube and Mushrooms, Sweetbreads and Asparagus Peas, A Leg of Lamb and Haricot Beans, Chickens a la Reine, Haunch of Venison, Soup Vermicelli, Bacon Chine, Chickens and Celery, Neat’s Tongue, Grenadines and Endives, Rabbits a la Portugueze and Sorrel Sauce, Petit Pate of Oysters, Souties of Mutton and Cucumbers, Giblet Soup, Roast Beef Second Course Partridges, Savoy Cake, Carmel Basket, Jerusalem Artichokes, Cauliflowers, Mince Pies, Cheesecakes, French Beans, Spinage, Pheasant, Snipes, Asparagus, Red Cabbage, Apricot Torte, Mushrooms, Ragoo Mele, Chantilla Cake, Carmel Cake, Meringues, Guinea Fowl

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an English blackbird, there is no such creature as a “calling” bird. bird. “calling” a as creature such no is there blackbird, English an

which rolls off the tongue more easily. While a colly bird is is bird colly a While easily. more tongue the off rolls which

English phrase turned “colly” birds into “calling” birds, birds, “calling” into birds “colly” turned phrase English

the gift. Over the years, modern corruption of that old old that of corruption modern years, the Over gift. the

the singer’s true love gave four colly (or collie) birds as as birds collie) (or colly four gave love true singer’s the

sung in England during the Middle Ages and Tudor era, era, Tudor and Ages Middle the during England in sung

In the original 12 Days of Christmas, which was first first was which Christmas, of Days 12 original the In

four “colly” birds? “colly” four On the fourth day of Regency Christmas my true love gave to me… to gave love true my Christmas Regency of day fourth the On

On the fourth day of Regency Christmas my true love gave to me… four “colly” birds? In the original 12 Days of Christmas, which was first sung in England during the Middle Ages and Tudor era, the singer’s true love gave four colly (or collie) birds as the gift. Over the years, modern corruption of that old English phrase turned “colly” birds into “calling” birds, which rolls off the tongue more easily. While a colly bird is an English blackbird, there is no such creature as a “calling” bird.

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