Wild food info

 

In the Husk version, the word "wassel" is modernized to "wassail." Otherwise, the versions are the same.

Also found in Henry Vizetelly, Christmas With The Poets (London: David Bogue, 1851), who notes:

 

 

The Boar's head and the Wassail-bowl were the two most important accessories to Christmas in the olden time, and there were frequent brief allusions to the latter, in the works of our early English poets. The phrase "Wassail," occurs in the oldest carol that has been handed down to us, and in the extracts already given from Spenser, Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson, mention is made of the Wassail bowl, which shows, that in their day it continued to form a necessary portion of the festivities appertaining to the season.

 

 

New-year's eve and Twelfth-night were the occasions on which the Wassail-bowl was chiefly in requisition. In a collection of ordinances for the regulation of the royal household, in the reign of Henry VII., on Twelfth-night the steward was enjoined, when he entered with the spiced and smoking beverage, to cry "Wassail" three times, to which the royal chaplain - jolly priest as he doubtless was - had to answer with a song.

 

 

While the wealthier classes were enjoying themselves with copious draughts of "lamb's wool" - as the beverage, composed of ale, nutmeg, sugar, toast, and roasted crabs, or apples, with which the bowl was filled, was styled - the poorer sort of people went from house to house with Wassail bowls adorned with ribbons, singing carols, and inviting those whom they visited to drink, in return for which, little presents of money were generally bestowed upon them.

 

source
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/a_jolly_wassel_bowl.htm

 

 

 

 

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