We durst not venture, in forest at night,
So sit in mead hall, in flickering light,
The festive board laid, for the full twelve nights,
Children lark and laugh, like merry field wights.
Let us full frolic, the twelve holidays,
Make merry wassail, under smoke and haze,
Before winter fully, cometh to town,
And Helle’s deep snow, from heavens falls down.
Beams decked with holly, and green leaves of plants,
Holly and ivy, leaves shimmer and dance,
Yule log burns bright in, centre of long hall,
Warming flames flicker, and shadows grow tall.
Mead barrel carried, with due reverence,
Mead cup bearing boys, folks thirst soon to quench,
Rush lights glitter on, joyful festive board,
Merry folk lining, benches of the lord.
The mid winters feast, fills warm festive hall,
With scents and rich smells, of brave Winterfull,
About the long hall, our mead cups to raise,
We over indulge, in our merry ways.
As merry mead flows, folk join in the chant:
Never burn ash for Yule, if you can burn oak,
Never cut staff from oak, if you can from ash,
Never make bow with ash, if you can with yew,
Never shield with yew, if you can with linden,
Never draw a knife, if you can a sword,
Never drink small beer, if you can drink strong,
Never drink melomel, if you can drink mead,
Never sip mead, when you can wassail,
A merry Yuletide, wassail and drink hail!
Copyright Andrew Rea All Hallows’ Eve 2025
