The holidays are coming and with it, a stream of folk albums are coming out, including two lovely Christmas records. The first one is called Wassail, Wassail! and is recorded by Imbue.
Last year Imbue were asked to perform at a Dickens Christmas Fair, and the experience led them to venture out of their normal medieval/Renassaince repertoire, into the magical sounds of Victorian Christmas Carols. And what a treat Wassail Wassail! has become. The perfect gift to put under the Christmas Tree, or better yet, in it as the old Victorians did. In the tree? Yes, up till then the idea of giving gifts to each other was something you did on New Year, but in Victorian times it shifted towards Christmas, small gifts were hung in the tree; which was further decorated with dried fruit, candies in wrappers, cookies, nuts, strands of popcorn or cranberries and the odd tin and leather Christmas decoration.
Well, as we see it Wassail, Wassail! would be the perfect Christmas decoration/present, but of course you COULD go Victorian all the way, in which case you would hire in the Carol singers themselves and give them Wassail punch! it is ALL up to you. So here is that all-important link to read all about Wassail, Wassail! And furthermore? Merry Christmas!