Tuesday 24 December 2013

The Daily Maze

Word of the day

‘wassail’ – 1. spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve.
                 
2. lively and noisy festivities involving the drinking of plentiful amounts of alcohol; revelry.
     
3. to drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

4. [with object]  historical (in SW England) drink to (fruit trees, typically apple trees) in a custom intended to ensure a fruitful crop: it is the custom, in the cider districts of Sussex, to wassail the apple trees.

5. to go from house to house at Christmas singing carols.
(from Old Norse ves heill meaning ‘be in good health’)

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