Wassail
Today was all about the cider-centric tradition of wassailing! For those wanting a fun history lesson, “wassail” simply means “to wish good health”. It’s a common tradition in England to visit orchards during winter to sing songs to the trees and place a cider-soaked piece of toast in the tree to wish them good health and to help promote a good harvest the following year. And (fun fact!) that’s where our version of to “toast” someone’s good fortune comes from.
Wassailing also often involves carolers (like in the song “Here We Come A Wassailing”) in which they visit their neighbors and sing songs wishing them good fortune in the coming year. In return for their well wishes, they ask for a chance to warm up by the fire, to sip from their wassail bowl, to eat a bit of pork pie, or even be given a penny or two.
And so the Sommerfelds wassailed all day! We spent it making apple cider French toast, pork and apple Bedfordshire Clangers, and a bowl of homemade wassail (spiced cider and port with an eggy froth). We ventured out to “toast” our neighborhood apple tree with the help of our homemade Mari Lwyd (wassailing horse of South Wales) and also made a trip to Thor’s Cider in Stillwater!
MENU:
Rosemary & Blue Cheese Grilled Cheese
Homemade Wassail
ACTIVITIES:
Making a Mari Lwyd Wassailing Horse
Family Wassailing Walk to “Toast” the Neighborhood Apple Tree
Wassailing Playlist
Visit to Thor’s Cider
VIDEOS:
INTERESTING READS & CONTEXT:
