Wassail into a Merry Yule
DIY wassail? Yes please.
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Happy Yule, everyone! Special today for paid subscribers is a piece about the history of wassail, and a recipe to make your own.
The Magic of the Season Smells Like Wassail
By MaryRose Denton
“Here we come a-wassailing” may be a familiar old English holiday tune, but have you ever wondered what wassail is exactly?
This homage of good cheer can be found brewing at Midwinter or Yule in many a kitchen, and for a lot of folks (both children and adults alike), this is the most magical night of the year. Yule time has deep and profound magic all its own, accompanied by its own aromas and flavors. The magic of this season smells of wassail, that hot, spicy beverage of mulled apple cider in a mug. Wassail literally translates as “be in good health.” It is an easy cheer with this steaming concoction of steeping spices to warm your bones, as well as give a little boost to your immune system on the longest, and sometimes coldest, night of the season.