"Wassailers" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Wassailers" Meaning

Wassailers were traditionally groups of people, especially in England and Wales, who went from door to door during the Christmas season, singing and offering good wishes to their neighbors. The group members, often with their faces blackened or masked, would sing and offer a cup of wassail (a spiced apple cider) to the householders, while also asking for food and drink. This tradition was most commonly practiced in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The origins of the term "wassailing" date back to the Middle Ages, when wild apple trees were believed to be sacred. The wassailers would go from orchard to orchard, singing and shouting to wake up the trees from their winter slumber, in order to encourage a good harvest.

Over time, the custom of wassailing evolved into a social event, where the participants would gather at a host's home or in a pub, singing carols and drinking wassail.

"Wassailers" Examples

Noun

A wassailer walked up to the table and got a refill on his drink.
At our Christmas party, there were many wassailing among our guests as they sang carols and shared hot cider.
The wassailers in those traditional English carols often deny being merry in their performance.
Romps men and wassailers guised in one mad team, frighted a whole swarm of proud ladies in black mourning.
That tavern-keeper was known for being the head wassailer on any given night.