The English custom of ‘Wassailing’ is the seasonal act of singing carols door-to-door and wishing good health. The singers and dancers (often very poor) would do this in the hope of being offered a drink from the ‘wassail bowl’ – a warm broth of hot ale, fruit and spices; good sustenance for those who were cold and often homeless. It is thought that this carol (composer unknown) was composed c.1850. Duration: 2.30
