There are basically 2 forms of wassailing one is a form or carolling and one is related to the apple orchards of the Summerlands (Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) referred to as Orchard-Visiting Wassail. Both these types of Wassailing take place on 12th night ((eve 5th /) 6th or 17th of January depending on how traditional they are). Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows Eve now more commonly known as Samhain / Halloween. The singing wassailing is traditional associated with wishing good health upon a household these tidings of joy and good health where rewarded with gifts of food and drink. Wassailers would announce their arrival to a property by singing “Here We Come A-Wassailing”, and this singing was an offering of peace and friendship and on greeting the householder would show that come in peace would sign “we are not daily beggars that beg from door to door but we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before.” And begging was considered to be disgusting Wassailing became an acceptable form charity giving. Peasants would sing to the lords of the manor exchanging wishes of good will and health. The Orchard-Visiting Wassail seems to have a much deeper but more local connection and has a pagan feel. The Orchard-Visiting Wassail is a drinking and singing ritual designed to wake the apple trees used to make cider and insure they produce lots of fruit. Still practiced to day in many Orchards in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire
