nifty-buckles:

Wassail: Old English Beverage

Wassail is an Old English beverage made of hot mulled cider. It means “Good Health.” It is traditionally drunk  as an  vital part of Wassailing. (Singing, drinking and refilling the bowl as the folks travel house to house in their village.)

Wassailing is a Medieval Yule English drink ritual to provide a healthy cider apple harvest for the following year. Folks would go wassailing from door to door throughout their village, it was considered a lucky sign to have them show up at your door.

Wassail is concocted by mixing in apple brandy, apple juice and other fruit juices. Winter spices include, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, mace and cloves.

Fruits are roasted such as small apples, kumquats and oranges then added to the Wassail mix. It is served out of large twelve handled apple-wood or silver bowl and ladled into silver or pewter goblets decorated with tied ribbons around the bottom of the goblet. 

Wassail was also used as an offer to the apple tree spirit, it would bless their orchards, increase their harvest and drive away evil spirits.

Here is a recipe for Wassail courtesy of Alton Brown at the food network https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/wassail-recipe-1949056

Sources & References:

*Christian, Roy (1972). Old English Customs. Pub. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5741-7

Photo and Picture in Public Domain Wikipedia