> To go “a wassailing” is the same thing as saying “a hunting we will go.”
> Beggars and children of old England  would go door to door singing cheerful Christmas songs in the hopes of getting rewarded with a warm, spicy ale from the wassail bowl.

NB the original publication of this dance in <<ddpub:8 Dances devised by Holly V Sherman#1548>> mistakenly has this dance as a strathspey. The deviser confirms it is supposed to be a reel.