Here We Come A-Wassailing

New Year is almost upon us, and I feel it's time for some custom and tradition. In the good old days, wassailers would go from house to house with a wooden bowl decorated in holly and ivy, accepting offerings of bread, cheese and beer (or cider) in return for good luck wishes expressed through song. Nowadays, of course, the practice has waned, as it's remarkably difficult to persuade anyone to give you a Smirnoff Ice and a kebab for warbling drunkenly at them. Still, I'm not above partaking in a glass and having a sing-song to melodies of yesteryear.


Here we come a-wassailing, among the leaves so green
Here we come a-wandering, so fairly to be seen
Now is wintertime, strangers travel far and near
And we wish you, send you, a happy new year

Bud and blossom, bud and blossom, bud and bloom and bear
So we may have plenty of cider all next year
Hatfuls and in capfuls and in bushel bags and all
And the cider running out of every gutter-hole

Down here in the muddy lane, there sits an old red fox
Starving and a-shivering, and licking his old chops
Bring us out your table and spread it if you please
And give us hungry wassailers a bit of bread and cheese

I've got a little purse and it's made of leather skin
A little silver sixpence would line it well within
Now is wintertime, strangers travel far and near
And we wish you, send you, a happy new year