Untold thousands of lights on the trees

at Tavern on the Green, Central Park

"Before the feast, the guests were served the wassail bowl and soon their appetites

were awakened and their feet were as light as their heads. Saxon ancestors quaffed

ale from the skulls of their enemies but the story of the origin of the wassail bowl

is interesting. Rowena, fair daughter of Hengist, presented Prince Vortigern with a

bowl of wine and saluted him with, " Lord King, Wass-heil," to which he answered,

"Drinc-heile," and saluted her then after his fashion. He was immediately smitten with

her charms and married her soon after. "Wass-heil" may be rendered into modern

English as "What hail" or "Here's to you."

-- from 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies by Alfred Carl Hottes

'Torches, torches, run with torches

All the way to Bethlehem!

Christ is born and now lies sleeping;

Come and sing your song to him!

Ah, Ro-ro, Ro-ro, my baby,

Ah, Ro-ro, my love, Ro-ro;

Sleep you well, my heart's own darling,

While we sing you our Ro-ro.

Sing, my friends, and make you merry,

Joy and mirth and joy again;

Lo, he lives, the King of heaven,

Now and evermone, Amen.

Torches (Villancico de Navidad); by J. Perez Ballestros,

Translation by J.B. Trend.

The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928

  Days 'til Christmas