Word Nerd : Wassail

Wassail ~ this is such a quintessential Christmastime word. The song lyrics play themselves with little effort whenever I hear the word (which, let’s face it, is often in-conjunction with said song!) and it just sounds happy and cheerful and filled with gaiety and joy! To toast friends, family and loved ones and to sing carols and make merry – it’s what the season is all about! Not to mention the yummy wassail worthy spiced ales and ciders that warm the body and soul during this cold time of year!

Also of delightful note, I have always had fond memories of the word wassail and of the song thanks to A Claymation Christmas Celebration. In this rather wacky TV special one of the hosts keeps attempting to correct the term wassail as it keeps being used incorrectly by the carolers – once as a-waffeling, then as a-waddeling, and finally as a-wallowing before being sung correctly. It put me into hysterics as a child (yeah, I was a precocious imp).