Nowadays, wassail, like sugarplums or hot buttered rum, is a part of the Christmas season that most of us experience mainly through references in songs and stories and artwork. But this old English custom is about much more than sharing a cup of good cheer. It’s about one of the parts of Christmas that’s mostly likely destined to remain stuck in Christmas past: inverting the normal rules of social order...with a little help from alcohol.
Thanks to Conrad Bladey, author of the five-volume The Book of Wassail, for appearing in this episode.
Be sure to check out the "Definitive Directory of Christmas Podcasts"
Share a Christmas memory on the podcast! Just record a voice memo into your phone and send it to christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com. Keep it reasonably short, clean and family friendly, and be sure to say your name and where you're from.
Keep in touch
Music in this episode
Order your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long Ago
Connect with Me
Books
Of Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past(2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life.
Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions(2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)
