The 69th Annual Wassail, Holiday kick-off Returns to The Jennings Center
By M. Todd Manuel
FWIS Contributing Writer
December 4, 2022 at the Jennings Center, the Christmas season will kick off with their traditional Wassail celebration –the 69th annual celebration. The event, which features songs, dances, poems, and spoken word, has become a local holiday hit and an extension of the traditional Wassail celebrations worldwide. The Wassail's origins date back centuries when communities shared the Wassail drink as a form of caroling and wishing good luck to each other during the Christmas and New Year seasons. However, what started as a centuries-old European celebration for good luck during these seasons, has been given a twist and made uniquely distinctive here in Fort Wayne in the central southeast neighborhoods surrounding the Albert Jennings Community Center. Next year's celebration will mark 70 years of the program.
Like many traditional programs, the Wassail has restarted. The program's rebuild in recent years after being canceled throughout the Covid-19 pandemic shows how deeply ingrained the tradition is in Fort Wayne. The Jennings Center's leaders look forward to seeing the community's participation and attendance. As they kick-off holiday program, the Wassail brings our community's elders, youth, and adults together in a way that represents a wish of goodwill for years to come.
"The Wassail recipe is kept secret and held by the community's elders," says site supervisor Mr. Mike Ayers. Mr. Ayers has worked in various capacities at the Jennings Center for over 30 years. He is no doubt a pillar of the program and the community. Ayers spoke of times before the pandemic when the program brought in families from all over the city and had attendees including adults and children of all ages numbering between 100 – 200 guests each year.
Last year there were over 100 guests. "The children are the spotlight, but we welcome everyone in the city to join us because that is what the Wassail is about...churches and schools, the young and the old are encouraged to join our holiday celebration..." said Mr. Ayers while describing past Wassail programs.
During our conversation, he also spoke of the importance of gathering and seeing our commonalities during this holiday season; the more we see each other as different, the more we lose the best part of us: each other. Therefore, getting the program and keeping the community together has become part of Mr. Ayers' mission. "It's very important to keep our community and family together, and we need that togetherness more than ever..." Mr. Ayers reiterated.
The Jennings Center invites the entire city to the program, which starts at 3 PM and ends at 6 PM on December 4th. With Elders serving the traditional Wassail drink, the festivities of song, dance, spoken word, and neighborly fellowship will follow. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring their family or friends with you for a night of holiday celebration and wishes of goodwill in the holiday season.