Wassailing a tradition for local couple
Here we come a wassailing, among the leaves so green
Here we come a wondering so fair to be seen…
Gary and Cherry Schwartz of Owatonna have been wassailing for 49 years, even though they haven’t wandered far.
Their wassail has been a created holiday hot drink (see recipe) accompanied by lots and lots of cookies. They had to make changes to the party last year and again this year because of COVID-19 and health concerns for their visitors. The change is a drive-by event with a wassail drink mix and a cookie jar mix.
“It took us a long time to decide what to do last year,” said Cherry Schwartz. “We didn’t want to give up the tradition.” They consulted books about jar mixes and drink mixes and settled on four different cookie mixes – Dreamsicle, M &M, Chocolate Chip and Brownies. The recipients just need to add one or two ingredients and bake. The drink mix features spices to be added to apple cider.
The Schwartzes, newlyweds at the time, moved to Owatonna in the fall of 1973 where they both taught in the St. Mary’s parochial schools – Gary Schwartz in the library and speech and Cherry Schwartz in home economics, reading, math tutoring and Christian education.
High school students produced a play that year and that that’s how the wassail tradition started – hosting students and faculty, including the nuns, for cookies and hot cider in their tiny apartment. Having done it once, it became a tradition the next year.
“We both were involved in the Jaycees and the Mrs. Jaycees,” said Gary Schwartz, “and we met a lot of people. We had a good cadre of friends and we decided to continue and expand.” The event, usually the first weekend in December grew to two days, then three days then four. At first, it was Thursday night for the Jaycees, Friday and Saturday for work, school and other friends, and Sunday afternoon for church.
Cherry Schwartz said the days weren’t exclusive to those groups. People were invited to come whenever they could. They asked people to call them and let them know what day they were coming or if they couldn’t attend.
There have often been 100 or more people but the “normal number” has been about 80 with Sunday afternoon usually having the largest number.
“Some people came and stayed longer, others might have come for 20 minutes,” said Gary Schwartz.
During last year’s drive by, the couple greeted their Christmas visitors in the garage. This year, they met them in their driveway.
There have been about 40 dozen cookies prepared in advance. Cherry Schwartz’s sister, Karen, has lent an oven most years, as did her mom. Until the pandemic change, the one constant was the Christmas mice. Other usual kinds have been chocolate no-bakes, peanut blossoms, and decorated sugar cookies. The Schwartz children, in their youth, helped decorate the sugar cookies. Later, their grandchildren helped.
Preparation for the event starts before Thanksgiving. Cherry Schwartz has a Wassail checklist…the last typed item, she said, says “kiss your husband often, he needs it and it’s fun.”
And what about the 50th Wassail in 2022 and thereafter: “We’ll see,” said Cherry Schwartz.
Holiday Wassail
6 c. apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
¼ t. nutmeg
¼ c. honey
3 T. lemon juice
1 (18 oz.) can pineapple juice
Rum, spiced or plain
Cinnamon sticks
In a large saucepan, heat the cider and one cinnamon stick to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Uncover. Stir in remaining ingredients (not the rum or other sticks) and simmer 5 more minutes. Serve in punch bowl or carafe or individually in Christmas mugs (Gary and Cherry use their mug collection and not paper or disposable cups). Add as much rum as you like or serve without. Use the cinnamon sticks as stirrers.
From Cherry and Gary Schwartz