"they are no longer relevant to human life, saving an elite of well-to-do country-dwelling Folkier Than Thou types"

Bit of a sweepuing statement that, Sweeney. I reckon any excuse for a piss-up is valid. Wassailing is as relevant as, say, carol singing or the cringe-making faux-jollity of state-instigated jubilee celebrations for an anachronistic monarchy.