TRISTAN SHERWIN

Here we come a-wassailing Among the leaves so green;

Here we come a-wand’ring

So fair to be seen.

Love and joy come to you,

And to you your wassail too;

And God bless you and send you

a Happy New Year

And God send you a Happy New Year.

Day 7… and another favourite Carol of mine.

Although, strictly speaking, it’s not a Carol. As the title suggests, it’s a wassail.

You know, a wassail? Something we’ve all done with our mates?

No?

Like me, you’re probably wondering, ‘what’s a wassail?’

Well, avoiding an ancient English history lesson, a wassail is a toast, usually with mulled wine, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. ‘Wassail’, or ‘waes hael’, is Anglo-Saxon for ‘good health.’

As it’s New Year’s Eve, a time traditionally for wassailing, what better time to say,

‘Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too,
And God bless you and send you,
A happy New Year,
And God send you,
A happy new year.’