Christmas in the Olden Time, or The Wassail Bowl was written in 1846 by John Mills, an author praised for his writings of cultural importance. This novel depicts many common traditions of the Victorian time, highlighting especially the tradition of wassailing. Wassail is a drink made from wine or mulled ale; spices such as nutmeg, ginger, and cloves; sugar; and roasted apples. Wassailing came with much ceremony. When it was drunk on Christmas, the bowl was brought in with much fanfare, and before each person would take a drink, “waes hael,” or “good health,” was pledged.
