Show should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind there may be no way of proving whether or not robert burns was thinking of new years eve when he wrote auld lang syne however two things are certain the scotch have always made a big fuss over new years and no american celebration thereof would be complete without this traditional bit of scottish verse in scotland the wassail bowl went round at new years time traditionally tio nally the custom originated originated when rowena daughter of hengist presented prince Vortig ren with a bowl of wine and the salutation lord king wass hael or literally to your health the prince drained the bowl with one draught returned the maidens salutation by immediately falling in love with her and the two lived happily ever after the wassail bowl itself was an ornament of graceful design decorated with branches of greenery that formed a canopy over it the mixture within was warm and included ale sugar and nutmeg or ginger highly spiced sweetened wine was added by hosts who could coul d aff afford ord it on new years 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 kettle fuls 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 |