Here We Go A Wassailing-Wait What?

There's nothing like going inside on a cold winter day and curling up with a mug of your favorite warm beverage. Tis the season for a variety of warmed tasty drinks like:

• Hot Chocolate/Cocoa
• Mulled Apple Cider
• Eggnog
• Wassail

The first three I bet most people are familiar with, but one drink that seems to be obscured is Wassail. What is it exactly and where does it come from? Well, we're about to find out!

The term wassail originates from an ancient Anglo-Saxon phrase "waes hael" (good health) or 'ves hiel" (be whole) depending on the translation. Wassail was primarily a toasting custom:

Call: "Waes hael" (Good health)
Response: "Drinc hael"
*then everyone drinks*

The traditional drink was derived from mulled ale, curdled cream, apples and some spices. Due to the richness both in flavor and in costs most drank the beverage once a year around New Year, however, for those that could afford it, they'd drink everyday for the 12 days before Christmas.

Nowadays the Wassail drink is made from spices, apple cider and rum (though recipes do differ). However, the European tradition is still strong, in fact it was so deeply rooted in the culture that the toast was still used by the Normans when they invaded England!

Why not try and make your own and start a new tradition?! Share with us your favorite  Wassail, or other hot holiday beverage recipe!

Stay warm and Waes Hael!