FROM THE HEART WITH GINI RIFKIN: January 2026

Thursday, January 29, 2026

What is Wassailing the trees

For some reason, I've always associated Wassailing with Victorian Christmas caroling. The wassailing of trees, however, was celebrated on Twelfth Night January 6, or to be strictly correct on "Old Twelvey Night" (January 17) the true date before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.

The word 'Wassail' is quite old and derived from the Norse 'Ves heill', from whence came the Old English salutation 'Wes Hal', meaning 'Be thou hale'. As it stems from Anglo/Saxon, it is thought to predate the Norman Conquest.

I love trees, and was truly enamored at the thought of singing to their health. And although it is a rather riotous celebration, it's taken quite seriously by those who depend on a good harvest the following fall.

Reciting poems and singing to the trees was meant to promote their health and insure the trees lived through the winter.

The chanting of incantations, banging on drums and pots and pans and even firing a volley into the branches was meant to drive away evil spirits.

The wassail King and Queen led the procession from one orchard to the next. As a gift to the tree spirit, the wassail Queen would periodically be lifted up into the boughs of the tree where she placed a piece of toast soaked in Wassail.

Another reason to celebrate the season.