The word
Wassail refers to several related traditions; first and foremost
wassailing is an ancient southern
English tradition that is performed with the intention of ensuring a good crop of
cider apples for the next year's harvest. It also refers to both the salute 'Waes Hail', the term itself is a contraction of the
Middle English phrase
wæs hæl, meaning literally 'good health' or 'be you healthy' and to the drink of
wassail which is a hot mulled cider traditionally drunk as an integral part of the wassail ceremony.
Reference: Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassail
