Wassailing + the Power of Song

Yuletide is coming! And as the days grow shorter and shorter and darker and darker, I want to remind us of the light on the other side. December 21st, (3 days after my birthday), is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, but also the beginning of the light returning. This is what the pagan celebration of Yule (the predecessor to Christmas) is all about. Its purpose is essentially to create as much warmth and light as possible on the darkest of nights, and to celebrate the brighter days coming.

Its traditions include decorating trees, homes, lighting candles and burning Yule logs. It includes making hearty, warm dishes and spiced drinks. But my favorite tradition I’ve been reading about is the one I want to talk about today: wassailing!

You may know “wassailing” as the original form of “caroling”. The origin of the tradition is that people would commune together, often under a tree of significance to their neighborhood or village (often orchard), and make music, for essentially, energetic purposes. They would sing to the trees to encourage them to produce healthy crops in the new year, to ward away evil spirits, to bring about love and goodwill. They would also drink a lot, and make merry.

What I really love about the idea of “wassailing”, is that it’s one of the few holiday traditions that’s a non-instution based, community-focused, essentially, jam circle for the purpose of energetic work. It believes in the power of song. Isn’t it what us musicians do, in our own seemingly small way, each day, trying to reach and heal people through music? All to say, wassailing - quite rad.

I’m hoping to gather my friends and loved ones on my birthday and have a “wassail” circle this year. In these dark days, in this dark world, let’s sing and cheers to a better, more peaceful one coming. And to the light returning.

Much Love,

- Cal