Show Scotch Customs Brought to 1 U. U S. S Should auld acquaintance be forgot And d never brought to mind There may be no way of proving whether or not Robert Burns was thinking of New Years Year's Eve when he wrote Auld HAuld Lang Sync Syne however however however how how- ever two things are certain the Scotch have always made a big fuss fus over New Years Year's and no American celebration thereof would be complete complete complete com com- without this traditional bit of Scottish verse In Scotland the wassail bowl went Traditionally Traditionally Traditionally round at New Years Year's time the custom originated when Rowena daughter da of Hengist presented presented pre pre- rented Prince with a bowl of wine and the salutation Lord King wass-hael wass or literally To uTo your health The prince drained the bowl with one draught returned immediately immediately immediately immedi immedi- the maidens maiden's salutation by falling in love with her and the two lived happily ever after The wassail bowl itself was an ornament of graceful design design deco deco decorated rated with branches of o greenery that formed canopy a over it The mixture mixture mixture mix mix- ture within was warm and included ale sugar and nutmeg or ginger highly spiced sweetened wine was added by hosts who could afford it On New Years Year's Eve at the stroke of 12 the head of the household toasting his family and friends sipped the mixture and then passed it to the others present Sometimes the party would pile into a wagon or sleigh and carrying of the beverage buns cheese etc would stop at various houses throughout the community The refreshments went around at each stop and nobody got home till morning |