Here We Come A-Wassailing !

Here we come, a-wassailing...we've all heard it and probably sang it in grade school, but what does that even mean? And what is wassail?

Let's answer the second question first. Traditional wassail was made with hard liquor, apples, brandy, and other spices.

And while you can certainly go down a rabbit hole researching this, generally speaking there are two distinct variations of wassailing. One involves groups of merrymakers going from one house to another, wassail bowl in hand, singing traditional songs and generally spreading fun and good wishes.

The other form of wassailing is generally practiced in the countryside, particularly in fruit growing regions, where it is the trees that are blessed.

So the song seems to make a little more sense:

"Here we come a-wassailing Among the leaves so green, Here we come a-wassailing, So fair to be seen:

Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too, And God bless you and send you, A happy New Year, And God send you, A happy new year."

Keep reading for a Spiced Wassail recipe using vitality essential oils.

And save those empty oil bottles and use them to decorate your home! Since I started using oils, I have saved sooooo many empty bottles. Some of the oil names are perfect for different holidays -- Gratitude, Gathering, Humility, and Harmony are great to display for Thanksgiving season.

There are so many oils to choose for Christmas: 3 Wise Men, Sacred Angel, Evergreen Essence, Christmas Spirit, Frankincense, and Myrrh, for example. I am not much of a DIY person so this is super easy to do. Here are a few of the displays at the Studio.

A few years ago someone shared an idea of making a string of lights out of empty bottles, and I actually did this!

They are on my tree here at the Studio. I have seen these made with and without the caps; I opted to keep my caps on, but had to have the tops drilled to accommodate the little light bulbs.

I used a battery operated string with a built in timer, and the batteries last the entire season.

When you are all done decorating and it's time to entertain, why not try this Spiced Wassail recipe? I like to put this in a crock pot on the "keep warm" setting. It sure is yummy. You can make it SPIKED if you choose, simply add your favorite alcohol to it, 1 ounce per serving.

SPICED WASSAIL

This recipe makes 6 servings.

4 cups of apple juice or apple cider

2 cups cranberry juice or NingXia Red

2 cups pineapple or orange juice

5 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality essential oils

3 drops Ginger Vitality essential oil

3 drops Clove Vitality essential oil

optional garnishes: 1 orange, sliced thin, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks

Combine the fruit juices in a large saucepan, simmer on low heat until heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the essential oils. This is when I pour it into a crock pot to stay warm. Then top with optional garnish.

Let me know how you like this recipe!

Whatever holidays you celebrate during this season, I hope it is happy and merry, and may God bless you and send you a happy New Year!

--Janet

P.S. Need high-quality oils? Stop in at Making Scents Studio and let me help you get what you need, and check out the special bundles ready for gift giving for any occasion! If you would rather shop on-line for Young Living oils and diffusers, please use my referral code #10028291 and link www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/10028291, I would love to be your personal concierge for all things oily!

I trust Young Living (and their Seed to Seal Quality Commitment) to provide high-quality essential oils, because oils from the bargain bin at the dollar store just don’t therapeutic qualities, and most likely contain additives or residues that you definitely DO NOT want.