That video is my attempt at a Wassail Cup, or Vessel Cup, Christmas Doll. I love all folklore related to dolls and learnt about this curious custom in The English Year by Steve Roud.
My doll is in the Wassail bowl I found in a charity shop. She's a vintage tree angel, although only about 40 years old and made of plastic rather than anything antique. To decorate her, I went into the garden and picked ivy. I couldn't find any holly with berries on it - or mistletoe - but I did find a tiny rosebud that had remained undamaged despite the morning frost. I picked that to put in her hands.
I think this might be the start of a Yuletide tradition in which I decorate a Wassail Cup Doll every year, and photograph or video her for the blog. If you prefer to see a regular photo of this year's effort rather than the video, I took one of them too and you can see it to the right.
Doing a web search for more information about Christmas dolls, I found quite a bit on the blog In Search of Traditional Customs and Ceremonies: https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/custom-demised-the-vessel-or-wassail-cup/
You can find out more about other doll traditions in folklore and witchcraft in my book Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls. It is published by Moon Books.
5 comments:
Hmmm... it would be nice if the fairy or angel on top of people's trees could be taken out to meet the neighbours too! Wrapped up warm in a nice Wassail cup of course! Let's hope you've started something, Lucya. It'll make a pleasant change from kids knocking on the door with "We wISHoo a merry Christmas..." and nowt else. Come to think of it, we haven't had any carol singers for a few years now. I guess they're too busy interacting with their devices. :(
Thank you Jane. My wassail doll is just under my tree this year. Hopefully in years to come there will be more socialising with the neighbours!
I have a number of Nisse in my house and on Christmas Eve I leave them a bowl of porridge with butter and a shot of whiskey. Have done so for years. Good Yule to you!
I came across this forgotten tradition and tumbled down a rabbit hole which brought me to your blog, and your beautiful Wassail Cup doll.
I'm desperate now to make my own! I live in South Oxfordshire near a village which has recently reintroduced an orchard Wassail - the afternoon includes singing of special Wassail songs, shooting guns into apple trees and beating them with sticks, the hanging of toast on the branches for robins, and a mummers play, as well as lots of Morris dancing. It's fantastic! Those who attend can do their own thing and I'm thinking I'd love to take a small Wassail Box with a decorated doll. To me, there's something very mysterious and ancient about 'revealing' the doll when asked to. If I manage to make this, shall I post a photo here? And will you be making a doll this year too?
Ellie, thank you! I'd love to see the picture of your doll. You can email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com if you like
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