264 
NEW YEAR S EVE 
ones, when at last the twigs and their needles began to take fire and 
snap — O, it was a delight for them ! — On the next day, in the great 
parlour, the parents laid out on the table the presents for the children : 
a scene of more sober joy succeeds, as on this day, after an old cus- 
tom, the mother says privately to each of her daughters^ and the 
father to his sons, that which he has observed most praiseworthy, and 
that which was most faulty, in their conduct. Formerly, and still in 
all the smaller towns and villages throughout North Germany, these 
presents were sent by all the parents to some one fellow, who, in hioh 
buskins, a white robe, a, mask, and an enormous flaxen wig, personates 
Knecht Rupert, i. e. the servant Rupert. On Christmas night*he goes 
round to every house, and says, ‘ that Jesus Christ, his Master, sent 
him thither.’ The parents and their children receive him with great 
pomp of reverence, while the little ones are most terribly frightened. 
He then inquires for the children, and, according to the character 
which he hears from the parent, he gives them the intended present, 
as if they came out of heaven.” 
New' Year’s Eve. 
There was an ancient custom, which is yet retained in many places, 
on New Year’s Eve : Young women went about with a wassail bowl of 
spiced ale, with some sort of verses, that were sung by them as they 
went from door to door. Wassail is derived from the Anglo-Saxon, 
Waes hael, (be in health.) It were unnecessary to add, that they 
accepted little presents on the occasion, from the houses at which they 
stopped to pay this annual congratulation. 
In the Antiquarian Repertory, is a wood-cut of a large oak beam, 
the ancient support of a chimney-piece, on which is carved a large 
bowl, with this inscription on one side, *Wass-heil.’ 
The ingenious remarker on this representation, observes, that it is 
the figure of the Old Wassel Bowl, so much the delight of our hardy 
ancestors, who on the vigil of the New Year never failed to assemble 
round the glowing hearth with their cheerful neighbours, and then in 
the spicy Wassel Bowd (which testified the goodness of their hearts) 
drowmed every former animosity, an example worthy modern imitation. 
Wassel was the word, — Wassel every guest returned, as he took the 
circling goblet from his friend, whilst song and civil mirth brought in 
the infant year. 
A writer in the Gentleman’s Magazine, (vol. 65, for May, 1784, p. 
347) tells us, that ‘ The drinking the Wassel Bowl or Cup, was, in all 
probability, owing to keeping Christmas in the same manner they had 
before the Feast of Yule.’ One custom more should be remembered; 
and this is, that it was usual, some years ago, in Christmas time, for 
the poorer people to go from door to door with a Wassail Cup, adorn- 
ed with ribbons, and a golden apple at the tOp, singing, and begging 
money for it; the design of w'hich was, that they also might procure 
lamb’s-wool to fill it, and regale themselves as well as the rich. 
' The following Carol for a Wassel Bowl, to be sung to the tune of 
** Gallants, come away ;’ is from a collection of * New Christmas Ca- 
