The Wassail-Bout

The custom of the "Wassail" on New Year's Eve is of very ancient date in England. According to the "Book of Days," the head of the house assembled his family around the bowl of spiced ale, comically called "lamb's wool," from which he drank their healths; then passed it to the rest, that they might drink. The word that passed with the bowl was the ancient Saxon phrase, "Wass-heil," that is, "To your health." Hence this came to be recognized as the "wassail" or wassel bowl. The poorer class of people carried a bowl, adorned with ribbons, round the neighborhood, begging for something wherewith to obtain the means of filling it, that they, too, might enjoy wassail as well as the rich. On their rounds they sang songs suitable to the occasion. The custom of wassail at the New Year was kept up in the monasteries as well as in private houses. In front of the abbot, at the upper end of the refectory table, was placed the mighty bowl, styled in their language Poculum Charitatis, and from it the superior drank to all, and all drank in succession to each other.

In the Scotland the custom of the wassail bowl at the passing away of the old year was kept up until comparatively recent times. On the approach of twelve o'clock a "hot pint" was prepared, that is, a kettle or flagon full of warm spiced and sweetened ale, with an infusion of spirits. When the clock struck twelve, each member of the family drank of this mixture "A good health and a happy New Year, and many of them," to all the rest, with a general handshaking, and perhaps a dance round the table and the addition of a song. The elders of the family would then sally out, with the hot kettle and a provision of buns and short-bread, or bread and cheese, to visit their neighbors and interchange New Year's greetings. If they met on the way another party on a similar errand they would stop, and give and take sips from their respective kettles. Reaching the friend's house, they would enter with vociferous good wishes, and send the kettle circulating. To such an extent did this custom prevail in Edinburgh, in the recollection of persons still living, that, according to their account, the principal streets were more thronged between twelve and one in the morning of New Year's Day than was usual at midday. By an unlucky abuse of the innocent mirth and good feeling which "the Wassail" promoted, the ancient custom was extinguished.

January 1st, 1812, some reckless boys attacked a Wassail-party, and deprived them of their watches and other valuables. During the melee some lives were lost, and three of the young rioters were executed. From that New Year's Day, 1812, the custom of Wassail was discontinued. "The Wassail bowle," says Wharton, "is Shakespear's Gossip Bowl in the 'Midsummer Night's Dream.'" The custom of New Year's calls and New Year's gifts is a survival of the "Wassail-bout."