Wassail

Ingredients
1 gallon apple cider
1 pint* cranberry juice (pure if available, if not the cranberry juice cocktail works fine)
2 teaspoons all spice
Several cinnamon sticks
2 tablespoons aromatic bitters (available with the cocktail supplies in the grocery store)
1 orange spiked with whole cloves

Directions
Cook on low 5-8 hrs (below a boil but with enough heat to produce a light vapor)

*cranberry juice cocktail seems to be the only thing available at most grocery stores. If you use it, add another cup or so.

History
The word “wassail” is a seasonal greeting that originated with the Danes. In Saxon times the original form of this word was: was hail, (be whole) and was a greeting meaning: “be in good health”. In the twelfth century, it became a toast when the reply was “drink hail”, or “drink good health”. The word later was used for a drink related to the toast which was usually spiced ale or mulled wine made for Christmas Eve or Twelfth Night (Jan.6). In the west of Britain the good health of the fruit trees was toasted on Twelfth Night when the good fortune of next year’s crop of fruit was wished. Bread soaked in cider was put into the branches of trees to keep evil spirits away and ritual songs were sung.

Wassailing was also done on 17th January: the Old Twelfth Night. When hot twelfth night cake or bread was a popular accompaniment to the cider which was often splashed on the apple trees while the men fired their guns at the trees and banged on pots and pans.

from the website: http://www.plum.jerkum.ukgateway.net/wassail.htm