Greetings Good People:

After over 20 years finally, the Book of Wassail is now available. I first
wish to thank heartily all those on this list who have made contributions
which were quite generous and at times amazing. WASSAIL!

Five volumes

1. Folklore and Interpretation
    -It is helpful to think of Wassail as the product of two mysteries
present at the time of the "folkloric big bang" Mystery one- The change of
seasons. Mystery two The unfortunate segregation of an essentially
interdependent society. In the folklore section you will find all major
interpretations of wassail from the earliest collectors to the present day.

2. Literature and Verse
-Presented topically a huge collection of pieces demonstrate the
permeation of all aspects of literature through time by Wassail. From the
beginning several trends emerge that can be followed through time and can be
used to understand the lasting power of Wassail in Culture.

3. The Songs
-From the earliest to the most recent composed in 2010. Thanks for your
help! Lyrics, original analysis and absolutely every snippet of song.
Songs are presented with original commentary and notation where available.
Notation is collected all together in a special section. Dance is included
as are new recordings. Several hundred songs. (extensive research at the
Folklife Center of the Library of Congress included a detailed examination
of the Carpenter collection)

4. Food, Drink and all the rest
   - From scrumpy to possets and smoking bishop. Ancient recopies and a
modern one for Wassail shooters along with Wasssail beer recipes. Then there
are the breads, meat pies, puddings. We even set you up to prepare Boar's
Head for twelfth night. Then there is a history of Wassail bowls. There is
the discovery that the tulip shaped bowls may not have been for Wassail at
all. Then a history of toasting and even the arms of the family of Wassail
and a mathematical problem. Wassail in contemporary culture is included.
From items on ebay to notices for wassail events and even a reference to
ancient Wassail bowls made from skulls.

5. Bibliography- Complete and extensive together with a detailed contents
list across volumes.

The volumes are perfect bound. Lots of illustrations. Even present is a
history of illustration.

The work is also designed to be living. Upon registration owners will be
entitled to join an e.mail list and blog that will provide instant updates
and corrections. From time to time PDF upgrades will be issued.

ALL after cost proceeds go to the perpetuation of folk celebration in
Maryland via the Center for Fawkesian Pursuits and supports our free
reference web pages. Each year the center hosts a Wassail Celebration which
presents the only Mari Lwyd, Christmas Bull and Wassail Box in Captivity in
the United States. We teach folk celebration and related crafts and food
ways.

We accept paypal, cash, US Dollars. Paypal accepts credit cards

Here is the web page with order form

http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/wassailbook/wassailbook.html

Substantial institutional discounts will be made available and will be
extended to those who made significant contributions to the work.
Unfortunately the work is thousands of pages but we do believe that we have
kept the cost down to a bare minimum. We are well into debt at this point
and regrettably can not provide desk copies.

The page is being developed but should work.

For further information contact me directly

cbladey@verizon.net

Thanks again for all the help and support.

Conrad Jay Bladey
Hutman Productions