Wassailer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who partakes in lively social gatherings that feature singing, drinking spiced beverages, and celebrating merriment during festive times
2. An individual who celebrates seasonal festivities by sharing traditional drinks and songs while enjoying communal joy and togetherness
3. A person who engages in festivities by consuming spiced drinks, singing songs, and reveling in communal celebrations throughout the season

Etymology: "Wassailer" is a simple formation: the noun "wassail" with the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who performs the action. The older verb "wassail" meant to drink in good health, from the Old Norse phrase "ves heill," roughly "be healthy," which English speakers borrowed and turned into a toast, then a drinking bout, then a festive ritual of going door to door with a bowl of spiced drink in exchange for gifts. Someone who went about doing this became a wassailer. Over time the practice of wassailing shifted from drinking toasts toward singing, which is why the modern sense centers on caroling and holiday merriment. The word thus names a person doing the seasonal rounds, a figure who carried the old toast's cheer from the hall to the doorstep.