An 1860 drawing by John Gilbert of the wassail bowl, an element of an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ensure a good harvest the following year. Wassail is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing. It involves singing and drinking to the health of trees on Twelfth Night in the hopes that they might better thrive in the cider-producing counties in the South West of England.

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Size: 3142px × 2233px
Location: England
Photo credit: © De Luan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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