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What is wassail?

Wassail is a warm drink that was once popular in England. It is made from ale (an alcoholic beverage similar to beer, but heavier) or wine and flavored with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Wassail usually contains roasted apples, as well.

Wassail was originally used to toast to someone's health or for good luck. The word itself is derived from the Old Norse word vesheill, which means "be in good health."

Wassail was also served on special occasions such as Christmas and Twelfth Night (the twelfth night after Christmas, formerly celebrated as the end of Christmas). In Old England, groups of Christmas carolers would go a-wassailing, meaning they would travel from house to house caroling their hosts in return for a cup of this delicious drink.

Source: Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery, vol. 12, p. 1918.

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