Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale. In the countryside trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to house with their songs and calls for Christmas treats. Coming from the Anglo Saxon waes hael, ‘wassail’ is a toast wishing good health with a ‘be well’.

The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden

Yoko Ono Lennon Centre

Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale.  In the countryside, trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to house with their songs and calls for Christmas treats. Coming from the Anglo Saxon waes hael, ‘wassail’ is a toast wishing good health with a ‘be well’.

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's Wassail

The Music Room

Long before the tradition of carolling, festive revellers would go house-to-house, exchanging songs for money, food and ale. Coming from the old English waes hael, 'wassail' is a toast wishing good.

Jon Boden

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 14, 2025

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's Wassail · Anvil Arts

Past events

Nov 30, 2025

The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden · Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Dec 9, 2023

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's Wassail · Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

About

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