91-423: The tradition of wassailing (also spelled wasselling ) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail . The house-visiting wassail is the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts; this practice still exists, but has largely been displaced by carol singing. The orchard-visiting wassail refers to
182-633: A chief minister and nine ministers, makes up the leading body of the government of Jersey . Each minister may appoint up to two assistant ministers. A chief executive is head of the civil service. Some governmental functions are carried out in the island's parishes . Jersey is a distinct jurisdiction for the purposes of conflict of laws , separate from the other Channel Islands, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Jersey law has been influenced by several different legal traditions, in particular Norman customary law , English common law and modern French civil law . Jersey's legal system
273-679: A "self-governing, democratic country with the power of self-determination ". Because Jersey is a dependency of the British Crown , King Charles III reigns in Jersey. " The Crown " is defined by the Law Officers of the Crown as the "Crown in right of Jersey". The King's representative and adviser in the island is the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey – Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd since 8 October 2022. He
364-525: A 500-year-old batch. It was mentioned and explained to Bing Crosby by Frank Sinatra in a special episode of the Frank Sinatra Show entitled "Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank" released 20 December 1957. In 2004, the alternative Christmas message was presented by The Simpsons who close out with a cup of "traditional British wassail". When the director cuts, they spit it out in disgust, with Bart remarking that it tasted "like hurl". Wassail
455-780: A Happy New Year This would be given in the form of the song being sung. Wassailing is the background practice against which an English carol such as " We Wish You a Merry Christmas " can be made sense of. The carol lies in the English tradition where wealthy people of the community gave Christmas treats to the carol singers on Christmas Eve such as 'figgy puddings'. Although wassailing is often described in innocuous and sometimes nostalgic terms—still practised in some parts of Scotland and Northern England on New Years Day as " first-footing "—the practice in England has not always been considered so innocent. Similar traditions have also been traced to Greece and
546-643: A blocking mechanism for depressions that originate in the North Atlantic and that produce stratiform clouds and rain; these are deflected northwards towards the UK mainland. Furthermore, the Azores High further reduces the type of convective cloud formations (particularly Cumulus and Stratocumulus ) that are common over more northern and inland areas of the UK during summer through subsidence . In 2011, Jersey generated controversy for calling itself "the warmest place in
637-412: A close resemblance to the "Gloucestershire Wassail". In her song "Oh England My Lionheart", on the 1978 album Lionheart , Kate Bush sings, "Give me one wish, and I'd be wassailing in the orchard, my English rose." The alternative rock band Half Man Half Biscuit from Tranmere , England, included a song named "Uffington Wassail" on their 2000 album Trouble over Bridgwater . With its references to
728-526: A form of recipient-initiated charitable giving, to be distinguished from begging . This point is made in the song " Here We Come A-wassailing ", when the wassailers inform the lord of the house that we are not daily beggars that beg from door to door But we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before. The lord of the manor would give food and drink to the peasants in exchange for their blessing and goodwill, i.e. Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too; And God bless you and send you
819-541: A good harvest the following year. According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the word "wassail" originated as a borrowing from the Old Norse salutation ves heill, corresponding to Old English hál wes þú or wes hál – literally meaning 'be in good health' or 'be fortunate'. It was initially used in the sense of 'hail' or 'farewell', without any drinking connotation. The English interjection " hail "
910-581: A government language, strong cultural ties to mainland Normandy as a part of the Normandy region , and place names with French or Norman origins. The island has very close cultural links with its neighbouring islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey , and they share a good-natured rivalry. Jersey and its people have been described as a nation. The Channel Islands are mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary as
1001-642: A history of fishing in the Bailiwick's waters. The management of this permit system has caused tension between the French and Jersey authorities, with the French threatening to cut off Jersey's electricity supply in May 2021. Before the end of the transition period after the UK withdrew from the EU in 2020, Jersey had a special relationship with the EU. It was part of the EU customs union and there
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#17331326403751092-450: A large communal bowl . Modern recipes begin with a base of wine , fruit juice or mulled ale, sometimes with brandy or sherry added. Apples or oranges are often added to the mix, and some recipes also call for beaten eggs to be tempered into the drink. Great bowls turned from wood, pottery or tin often had many handles for shared drinking and highly decorated lids; antique examples can still be found in traditional pubs. Hence
1183-676: A large grant of land in the American colonies in between the Hudson and Delaware rivers, which he promptly named New Jersey . It is now a state in the United States. In 1769, the island suffered food supply shortages, leading to an insurrection on 28 September known as the Corn Riots . The States met at Elizabeth Castle and decided to request help from the King. However, in 1771 the Crown demanded reforms to
1274-498: A large proportion of the island's retail and employment, such as the finance industry. Outside of the town, many islanders live in suburban and rural settlements, especially along main roads leading out of town, and even the more rural areas of the island have considerable amounts of development (St Ouen, the least densely populated parish, still has 270 persons per square kilometre ). The south and east coasts from St Aubin to Gorey are largely urbanised. The second smaller urban area
1365-488: A little heap under the stairs. "Lamb's wool" or "lambswool" is an early variety of wassail, brewed from ale or mead, baked apples, sugar and various spices. Next crowne the bowle full of With gentle Lambs wooll [ sic ], Adde sugar, nutmeg, and ginger, With store of ale too, And thus ye must doe, To make the Wassaile a swinger . British-Irish antiquarian Charles Vallancey proposed that
1456-540: A number of times, leading to the construction of fortifications such as Mont Orgueil Castle and a thriving smuggling industry. During the Second World War , the island was invaded and occupied for five years by Nazi Germany . The island was liberated on 9 May 1945, which is now celebrated as the island's national day. Jersey is a self-governing parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy , with its own financial , legal and judicial systems, and
1547-504: A punch bowl, Niles retorts, "Then it wouldn't be Wassail then would it?" In response, Martin looks up 'wassail' in the dictionary, defined as 'a Christmas punch'. In the Good Eats holiday special episode "The Night Before Good Eats", Alton Brown is given a wassail recipe by St. Nicholas which he then must make to appease a mob of angry carolers. In Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration, which originally aired December 21, 1987,
1638-484: A school curriculum following that of England, and the popularity of British sports , including football and cricket . The island also has a strong Norman-French culture, such as its historic dialect of the Norman language, Jèrriais , being one of only two places in Normandy with government status for the language (the other being Guernsey ), as well as the use of standard French in legal matters and officially in use as
1729-570: A self-governing British Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the largest of the Channel Islands and is 14 miles (23 km) from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. The Bailiwick consists of the main island of Jersey and some surrounding uninhabited islands and rocks including Les Dirouilles , Les Écréhous , Les Minquiers , and Les Pierres de Lecq . Jersey
1820-462: A variety of spellings including drinkel, drincheheil, drechehel, drincheheil, drinceseil, drinqueheil, drinkeil and dringail . The earliest example of the drinking phrases in a specifically English context comes from a manuscript of 1275, preserving a 12th-century text which has Old English : Þat freond sæiðe to freonde...Leofue freond wæs hail Þe oðer sæið Drinc hail . [That friend said to [the other] friend..., "beloved friend, wassail!";
1911-527: A very elaborate one in the seventeenth century, decorated with silver. It is so large that it must have passed around as a " loving cup " so that many members of the guild could drink from it. In the English Christmas carol " Gloucestershire Wassail ", the singers tell that their "bowl is made of the white maple tree, with a wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee". As white maple does not grow natively in Europe,
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#17331326403752002-586: Is a cognate of the etymon of the second part of "wassail", and was probably influenced by the Old English phrase. The expression later became part of the drinking formula " wassail ... drinkhail" which, the OED suggests, initially arose in England among the Anglo-Danes , and from there spread to the native population, being considered a specifically Anglo Saxon characteristic by the 12th century. The earliest record
2093-498: Is a hot, mulled punch often associated with Yuletide, often drunk from a ' wassail bowl '. The earliest versions were warmed mead into which roasted crab apples were dropped and burst to create a drink called 'lambswool' drunk on Lammas day, still known in Shakespeare 's time. Later, the drink evolved to become a mulled cider made with sugar, cinnamon , ginger and nutmeg , topped with slices of toast as sops and drunk from
2184-672: Is a member of the British-Irish Council , the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie . Jersey independence has in the past been discussed in the States Assembly. Former external relations minister Sir Philip Bailhache has at various times warned that the island may need to become independent. It is not Jersey government policy to seek independence, but
2275-737: Is a point of contact between Jersey ministers and the UK Government and carries out some functions in relation to immigration control, deportation , naturalisation and the issue of passports. In 1973, the Royal Commission on the Constitution set out the duties of the Crown as including: ultimate responsibility for the 'good government' of the Crown Dependencies; ratification of island legislation by Order-in-Council ( royal assent ); international representation, subject to consultation with
2366-536: Is an island measuring 46.2 square miles (119.6 km ) (or 66,436 vergées ), including reclaimed land and intertidal zone . It lies in the English Channel , about 12 nautical miles (22 km ; 14 mi ) from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France, and about 87 nautical miles (161 km; 100 mi) south of Great Britain. It is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands and part of
2457-400: Is divided into twelve parishes (which have civil and religious functions), the largest being Saint Ouen and the smallest St. Clement. They are all named after their parish church. The connétable is the head of the parish. They are elected at island general elections and sit ex oficio in the States Assembly. The parishes have various civil administrative functions, such as roads (managed by
2548-602: Is followed by noise-making from the assembled crowd until the gunsmen give a final volley through the branches. The crowd then moves onto the next orchard. As the largest cider producing region of the country, the West Country hosts historic wassails annually, such as Whimple in Devon and Carhampton in Somerset , both on 17 January, or old Twelfth Night . Many new, commercial or "revival" wassails have also been introduced throughout
2639-566: Is held on Old Twelfth Night (17 January) as a ritual to ask the gods for a good apple harvest. The villagers form a circle around the largest apple tree, hang pieces of toast soaked in cider in the branches for the robins , who represent the 'good spirits' of the tree. A shotgun is fired overhead to scare away evil spirits, and the group sings the following being the (last verse): Old Apple tree, old apple tree; We've come to wassail thee; To bear and to bow apples enow ; Hats full, caps full, three bushel bags full; Barn floors full and
2730-554: Is of around 1140, in Geoffrey of Monmouth's telling of the Rowena story , which has wes heil ... drinc heil (or, in a variant reading, was heil ). Later Middle English manuscripts have a variety of spellings, including wæs hæil, wæshail, wessail, washayl, washail, wesseyl, wassayl, wassaile, wassaylle, wessayle, whatsaile and whatsaill . The second expression, "drinkhail", may derive either from Old Norse or Old English, again with
2821-456: Is reserved to the Crown, Jersey has been developing its own international identity over recent years. It negotiates directly with foreign governments on various matters: for example, tax information exchange agreements (TIEAs) have been signed directly by the island with several countries. The government maintains offices (some in partnership with Guernsey) in Caen , London and Brussels . Jersey
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2912-547: Is the Les Quennevais area in St Brelade, which is home to a small precinct of shops, a school , a park, and a leisure centre. Most people across Jersey regularly travel from the rural settlements to St Helier and from the town to the rural areas for work and leisure purposes. Housing costs in Jersey are very high. The Jersey House Price Index has at least doubled between 2002 and 2020. The mix-adjusted house price for Jersey
3003-681: Is therefore described as 'mixed' or ' pluralistic ', and sources of law are in French and English languages, although since the 1950s the main working language of the legal system is English. The principal court is the Royal Court , with appeals to the Jersey Court of Appeal and, ultimately, to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council . The Bailiff is head of the judiciary; the Bailiff and
3094-493: Is to awaken the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn. The ceremonies of each wassail vary from village to village but they generally all have the same core elements. A wassail King and Queen lead the song or a processional tune to be played/sung from one orchard to the next; the wassail Queen is then lifted into the boughs of the tree where she places toast soaked in wassail from
3185-403: Is £567,000, higher than any UK region (UK average: £249,000) including London (average: £497,000; highest of any UK region). The island has an oceanic climate , with cool to mild winters and lukewarm to warm summers. The highest temperature recorded was 37.9 °C (100.2 °F), on 18 July 2022 , and the lowest temperature recorded was −10.3 °C (13.5 °F), on 5 January 1894. 2022
3276-530: The Apple Tree Man , the spirit of the oldest apple tree in an orchard, and in whom the fertility of the orchard is thought to reside. In the tale a man offers his last mug of mulled cider to the trees in his orchard and is rewarded by the Apple Tree Man who reveals to him the location of buried gold. Wassail bowls, generally in the shape of goblets, have been preserved. The Worshipful Company of Grocers made
3367-720: The Nazi occupation , a resistance cell was created by communist activist Norman Le Brocq and the Jersey Communist Party , whose communist ideology of forming a 'United Front' led to the creation of the Jersey Democratic Movement. The Channel Islands had to wait for the German surrender to be liberated. 9 May is celebrated as the island's Liberation Day , where there are celebrations in Liberation Square. After Liberation,
3458-519: The October 2011 elections . Jersey has one of the lowest voter turnouts internationally, with just 33% of the electorate voting in 2005 , putting it well below the 77% European average for that year. From the 2022 elections , the role of senators was abolished and the eight senators were replaced with an increased number of deputies. The 37 deputies are now elected from nine super constituencies, rather than in individual parishes. Although efforts were made
3549-517: The Old Norse salutation ves heill, corresponding to Old English hál wes þú or wes hál ; literally meaning 'be in good health' or 'be fortunate'. It was initially used in the sense of 'hail' or 'farewell'. Later it developed into the first part of a drinking formula "wassail...drinkhail". By c. 1300, the sense had extended to the drink itself, especially to the spiced ale used in Twelfth-night and Christmas Eve celebrations, and by 1598 it
3640-493: The wassail beverage, without which the wassailers in the song will not leave; "We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here". Such complaints were also common in the early days of the United States, where the practice (and its negative connotations) had taken root by the early 1800s; it led to efforts from the American merchant class to promote a more sanitized Christmas. In the cider -producing West of England (primarily
3731-546: The 1800s list the lyric simply as saying "maplin tree", without mentioning "white". Additionally, the lyric appears to have varied significantly depending on location and other factors, calling into question how literal the term was and/or how varied the construction of wassail bowls was. For example, a 1913 publication by Ralph Vaughan Williams , who had recorded the lyric in 1909 by a wassailer in Herefordshire , recorded it as "green maple". Another version from Brockweir listed
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3822-424: The Bailiwick of Jersey, such as Les Minquiers and Les Écrehous, however unlike the smaller islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, none of these are permanently inhabited. The largest settlement is the town of St Helier, including the built-up area of southern St Helier and neighbouring areas such as Georgetown, which also plays host to the island's seat of government. The town is the central business district, hosting
3913-626: The British Isles" during an advertising campaign, as Jersey is neither the place with the highest maximum temperature in the British Isles (40.3°C was recorded in Coningsby , Lincolnshire in July 2022 ) or the highest winter temperatures in the British Isles (which would be the Isles of Scilly ). Typical wind speeds vary between 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph) and 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). During
4004-497: The British Isles, with a maximum land elevation of 143 m (469 ft) above sea level. About 24% of the island is built-up. 52% of the land area is dedicated to cultivation and around 18% is the natural environment. It lies within longitude -2° W and latitude 49° N . It has a coastline that is 43 miles (70 km) long and a total area of 46.2 square miles (119.6 km ). It measures roughly 9 miles (14 km) from west to east and 5 miles (8 km) north to south, which gives it
4095-563: The Conqueror became King of England in 1066, the island remained part of the Norman possessions. However, in 1204, when Normandy was returned to the French king, the island remained a possession of the English crown, though never incorporated into England. Traditionally it is said that Jersey's self-governance originates from the Constitutions of King John , however this is disputed. Nevertheless,
4186-685: The Deputy Bailiff are appointed by the Crown. Other members of the island's judiciary are appointed by the Bailiff. The external relations of Jersey are overseen by the External Relations Minister of the Government of Jersey. In 2007, the chief minister and the UK Lord Chancellor signed an agreement that established a framework for the development of the international identity of Jersey. Although diplomatic representation
4277-526: The European mainland occasionally occur, but are usually not severe. Thunderstorms advecting north from the Bay of Biscay tend to occur during the summer if the influence of the Azores High temporarily weakens and a cut-off low develops in the region. Cool season thunderstorms are more common compared with other parts of Europe, as the relatively warm sea surface temperatures drive moderate surface based convection into
4368-545: The Germans constructed many fortifications using slave labour imported onto the island from many different countries occupied or at war with Germany. After 1944, supplies from France were interrupted by the D-Day landings , and food on the island became scarce. The SS Vega was sent to the island carrying Red Cross supplies and news of the success of the Allied advance in Europe. During
4459-641: The Israeli Eurovision contestant Dana International , the Sealed Knot English Civil War re-enactment society, and also to the skier Vreni Schneider , the meaning of the song's title in this context is a little obscure. In 2013 Folk Rock musician Wojtek Godzisz created an arrangement of the traditional Gloucestershire Wassail words with original music for the Pentacle Drummers' first Annual Wassail festival (2013), called "Wassail". For
4550-466: The Pentacle Drummers' second Wassail festival (2014), the pagan rock band Roxircle also wrote a Wassail song especially for the event called "Wassail (Give Thanks to the Earth)". The Pentacle Drummers encourage their headline acts to write a song centered around wassailing, a way to keep the tradition alive. The English progressive rock band Big Big Train released an EP entitled "Wassail" in 2015, named for
4641-560: The Road Committee) and policing (through the Honorary Police ). Each parish is governed through direct democracy at parish assemblies, consisting of all eligible voters resident in the parish. The Procureurs du Bien Public are the legal and financial representatives of these parishes. The parishes of Jersey are further divided into vingtaines (or, in St. Ouen, cueillettes ). Jersey
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#17331326403754732-693: The States was reformed, becoming wholly democratically elected, and universal franchise was implemented. Since liberation, the island has grown in population and adopted new industries, especially the finance industry. Jersey is a Crown Dependency , and is not part of the United Kingdom, being officially part of the British Islands . As one of the Crown Dependencies, Jersey is autonomous and self-governing, with its own independent legal, administrative and fiscal systems. Jersey's government has described Jersey as
4823-698: The West Country, such as those in Stoke Gabriel and Sandford , Devon . Clevedon in North Somerset holds an annual wassailing event at the Clevedon Community Orchard, combining the traditional elements of the festival with the entertainment and music of the Bristol Morris Men . Nineteenth-century wassailers of Somerset would sing the following lyrics after drinking the cider until they were "merry and gay": Apple tree, apple tree, we all come to wassail thee, Bear this year and next year to bloom and to blow, Hat fulls, cap fulls, three cornered sack fills, Hip, Hip, Hip, hurrah, Holler biys, holler hurrah. A folktale from Somerset reflecting this custom tells of
4914-401: The affectionate name among locals of "nine-by-five". The island is characterised by a number of valleys which generally run north-to-south, such as Waterworks Valley, Grands Vaux, Mont les Vaux, although a few run in other directions, such as Le Mourier Valley. The highest point on the island is Les Platons at 136 m (446 ft). There are several smaller island groups that are part of
5005-406: The ancient custom of visiting orchards in cider -producing regions of England , reciting incantations and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. Notable traditional wassailing songs include " Here We Come a-Wassailing ", " Gloucestershire Wassail ", and " Gower Wassail ". According to the Oxford English Dictionary , the word "wassail" originated as a borrowing from
5096-616: The bowl as being made from mulberry . There are surviving examples of " puzzle wassail bowls ", with many spouts. As you attempt to drink from one of the spouts, you are drenched from another spout. The drink was either punch, mulled wine or spicy ale. Wassail Wassail ( / ˈ w ɒ s əl / , /- eɪ l / WOSS-əl, -ayl ) is a beverage made from hot mulled cider , ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing , an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ensure
5187-410: The cider-producing counties in the South West of England (primarily Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire) or South East England (Kent, Sussex, Essex, and Suffolk), as well as Jersey, wassailing refers to a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking to the health of trees on Twelfth Night in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing
5278-401: The clayen cup as a gift to the tree spirits (and to show the fruits created the previous year). In some counties, the youngest boy or "Tom Tit" will stand in for the Queen and hang the cider-soaked toast in the tree. Then an incantation is usually recited. A folktale from Somerset reflecting this custom tells of the Apple Tree Man , the spirit of the oldest apple tree in an orchard, and in whom
5369-514: The cold, dry air aloft. This tends to result in small hail and weak waterspouts driven by convection and frequent shear brought on by cold fronts . In November 2023, Jersey was hit by extratropical Storm Ciarán , causing heavy rainfall, extremely high winds with gusts of up to 104mph. A supercell thunderstorm associated with the cold front of this system hit Jersey at around midnight on 2 November 2023. With severe wind shear , exceptional storm-relative helicity and temperature contrast of
5460-401: The construction of two railway lines, the improvement of transport links to England, and the construction of new piers and harbours in St Helier. This grew a tourism industry in the island and led to the immigration of thousands of English residents, leading to a cultural shift towards a more anglicised island culture. Island politics was divisively split between the conservative Laurel party and
5551-465: The cooler months, extratropical cyclones can produce gales somewhat regularly. Snow is very rare in Jersey. The last significant snowfall event occurred in March 2013, when 5.5 inches (14cm) of snow fell. However, the most recent measurable snowfall event occurred on 8-9 January 2024, when 3-5cm of snow fell, significantly more than forecasted. Extreme weather is rare due to the island's mild climate. Spring and summer thunderstorms originating from
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#17331326403755642-524: The counties of Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) wassailing also refers to drinking (and singing) the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive. Wassailing is also a traditional event in Jersey , Channel Islands where cider (cidre) made up the bulk of the economy before the 20th century. The format is much the same as that in England but with terms and songs often in Jèrriais . 17th-century English lyric poet Robert Herrick writes in his poem "The Wassail": Wassail
5733-442: The country of Georgia. Wassailing was associated with rowdy bands of young men who would enter the homes of wealthy neighbours and demand free food and drink (in a manner similar to the modern children's Halloween practice of trick-or-treating ). If the householder refused, he was usually cursed, and occasionally his house was vandalized. The example of the exchange is seen in their demand for " figgy pudding " and "good cheer", i.e.,
5824-421: The fertility of the orchard is thought to reside. In the tale a man offers his last mug of mulled cider to the trees in his orchard and is rewarded by the Apple Tree Man who reveals to him the location of buried gold. British folk rock band Steeleye Span opened their third album Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again (1971) with an extended, minor-key version of " Gower Wassail ", Tim Hart singing
5915-422: The first stanza of the traditional carol Gloucestershire Wassail ; variations of which were known to have been sung as far back as the 1700s, and possibly earlier: Wassail! Wassail! All over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree; With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee. At Carhampton , near Minehead , the Apple Orchard Wassailing
6006-407: The following: Sarnia , Caesarea , Barsa , Silia and Andium , but Jersey cannot be identified specifically because none corresponds directly to the present names. The name Caesarea has been used as the Latin name for Jersey (also in its French version Césarée ) since William Camden 's Britannia , and is used in titles of associations and institutions today. The Latin name Caesarea
6097-405: The island authorities before concluding any agreement which would apply to them; ensuring the islands meet their international obligations; and defence. Jersey's unicameral legislature is the States Assembly . It includes 49 elected members: 12 connétables (often called "constables", heads of parishes ) and 37 deputies (representing constituencies), all elected for four-year terms as from
6188-434: The island by migrants from Brittany in c. fifth – sixth century CE. In the sixth century, the island's patron saint Helier lived at the Hermitage on L'Islet (now Elizabeth Castle ). Legend states that Helier was beheaded by raiders and subsequently lifted his head and walked to shore. In the ninth century the island was raided by Vikings and in 933 it was annexed to Normandy by William Longsword . When Duke William
6279-414: The island continued to follow Norman customs and laws. The King also appointed a Bailiff and a Warden (now Lieutenant-Governor ). The period of English rule was marked by wars between England and France, as such a military fortress was built at Mont Orgueil . During the Tudor period , the split between the Church of England and the Vatican led to islanders adopting the Protestant religion. During
6370-443: The island is prepared if needs to do so. Jersey is a third-party European country to the EU. Since 1 January 2021, Jersey has been part of the UK-EU Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement for the purposes of goods and fishing. Goods exported from the island into Europe are not subject to tariffs , and Jersey is solely responsible for management of its territorial waters ; however, permits may be granted to EU fishermen who have
6461-407: The island since at least 12,000 BCE , with evidence of habitation in the Palaeolithic period ( La Cotte de St Brelade ) and Neolithic dolmens, such as La Hougue Bie . Evidence of Bronze Age and early Iron Age settlements can be found in many locations around the island. Archaeological evidence of Roman influence has been found, in particular at Les Landes . Christianity was brought to
6552-663: The island's governance, leading to the Code of 1771 and removed the powers of the Royal Court to make laws without the States . In 1781, during the American Revolutionary War , the island was invaded by a French force which captured St Helier , but was defeated by Major Peirson 's army at the Battle of Jersey . The 19th century saw the improvement of the road network under General Don,
6643-418: The lyric may be a reference to sycamore maple or field maple , both of which do, and both of which have white-looking wood. This is reinforced by an 1890s written account from a man describing the wassailing bowl of his friend from Gloucestershire: The bowl was one of those wooden sycamore or maple ones used to hold boiled potatoes on a farm kitchen table. Alternatively however, many formal publications from
6734-543: The main characters of the special Rex and Herb talk about the term "wassail" regarding a specific Christmas carol, which is comically mis-sung by varying groups that show up throughout the show. Jersey in Europe (dark grey) Jersey ( / ˈ dʒ ɜːr z i / JUR -zee ; Jèrriais : Jèrri [ʒɛri] ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey , is an island country in Northwestern Europe and
6825-491: The other said, "drinkhail!"] By c. 1300, the sense had extended from a toast to the drink itself, especially to the spiced ale used in Twelfth-night and Christmas Eve celebrations. By 1598 it was being applied to the custom of drinking healths on those nights. Shakespeare's 1603 use of "Keep wassel" in Hamlet i. iv. 10 was the first record of the term's use in a more general sense of " carousal " or "revelling". Wassail
6916-616: The power of self-determination . Jersey's constitutional relationship is with the Crown ; it is not part of the United Kingdom . The Bailiff is the civil head, president of the states and head of the judiciary; the lieutenant governor represents the head of state, the British monarch ; and the chief minister is the head of government . Jersey's defence and international representation – as well as certain policy areas, such as nationality law – are
7007-535: The progressive Rose party, as the lie of power shifted increasingly to the States from the Crown. In the 1850s, the French author Victor Hugo lived in Jersey, but was expelled for insulting the Queen, so he moved on to Guernsey . During the Second World War , 6,500 Jersey residents were evacuated by their own choice to the UK out of a total population of 50,000. Jersey was occupied by Germany from 1 July 1940 until 9 May 1945, when Germany surrendered. During this time
7098-478: The reign of Elizabeth , French refugees brought strict Calvinism to the island, which remained the common religion until 1617. In the late 16th century, islanders travelled across the North Atlantic to participate in the Newfoundland fisheries . In recognition for help given to him during his exile in Jersey in the 1640s, King Charles II of England gave Vice Admiral Sir George Carteret , bailiff and governor,
7189-575: The remove the connétables , they will continue their historic role as states members. There are also five non-voting members appointed by the Crown: the bailiff , the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey , the Dean of Jersey , the attorney general and solicitor general. The Bailiff is President (presiding officer) of the States Assembly, head of the judiciary and as civic head of the island carries out various ceremonial roles. The Council of Ministers , consisting of
7280-504: The responsibility of the UK government , but Jersey still has a separate international identity. The island has a large financial services industry, which generates 40% of its GVA . British cultural influence on the island is evident in its use of English as the main language and pound sterling as its primary currency. Additional British cultural similarities include: driving on the left, access to British television, newspapers and other media,
7371-629: The song and/or a processional tune played or sung from one orchard to the next. The wassail Queen will then be lifted up into the boughs of the tree where she will place toast soaked in Wassail from the Clayen Cup as a gift to the tree spirits (and to show the fruits created the previous year). Then an incantation is usually recited, such as: Here's to thee, old apple tree, That blooms well, bears well. Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, An' all under one tree. Hurrah! Hurrah! This incantation
7462-730: The term "lambswool" is a corruption of the name of a pagan Irish festival, "Lamas Ubhal" , during which a similar drink was had. Alternatively, the name may derive from the drink's similar appearance to the wool of lambs . Ale is occasionally replaced by ginger ale for children, especially around Halloween and New Year . Here's to thee, old apple tree, That blooms well, bears well. Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, An' all under one tree. Hurrah! Hurrah! Here's to thee, old apple-tree, Whence thou mayst bud, and whence thou mayst blow, And whence thou mayst bear apples enow! [enough] Hats-full! Caps-full! Bushel, bushel sacks-full! And my pockets full, too! Hurra! In
7553-520: The title track. Yorkshire -based folk singer Kate Rusby included the track "Cornish Wassail" on her 2015 album, The Frost Is All Over . Wassail was mentioned in the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo ask Mike Nelson to provide some. When asked to explain further what exactly wassail is, they admit to having no idea. However, they offer a guess that it might be an "anti-inflammatory". Upon actually getting some, they describe it as "skunky", discovering it to be
7644-402: The traditional verses and the others joining the chorus. The British rock band Blur released a song titled "The Wassailing Song", with each member taking a verse. The release was limited to 500 7-inch pressings, given out at a concert in 1992. The version of "The Wassailing Song" performed by Blur was later adapted in a recording by The Grizzly Folk , who have stated that the arrangement bears
7735-425: The trees, that they may bear You many a plum and many a pear: For more or less fruits they will bring, As you do give them wassailing. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in autumn. The ceremonies of each wassail vary from village to village but they generally all have the same core elements. A wassail King and Queen lead
7826-463: Was free movement of goods between Jersey and the EU, but the single market in financial services and free movement of people did not apply to Jersey. Jersey also has close relations with Portugal, including the exchangement of tax information; these relations are specifically strong with the Autonomous Region of Madeira , where St. Helier has one of its sister cities, ( Funchal ). Jersey
7917-539: Was also applied to the colony of New Jersey as Nova Caesarea . Andium , Agna and Augia were used in antiquity. Scholars variously surmise that Jersey and Jèrri derive from jǫrð ( Old Norse for 'earth') or jarl ('earl'), or perhaps the Norse personal name Geirr (thus Geirrsey , 'Geirr's Island'). The ending -ey denotes an island (as in Guernsey or Surtsey ). Humans have lived on
8008-539: Was being applied to the custom of drinking healths on those nights. Traditionally, the wassail is celebrated on Twelfth Night (variously on either 5 or 6 January). Some people still wassail on "Old Twelvey Night", 17 January, as it would have been before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752. In the Middle Ages , the wassail was a reciprocal exchange between the feudal lords and their peasants as
8099-656: Was featured on the BBC Two special Oz and Hugh Drink to Christmas , aired in December 2009. Oz Clarke and Hugh Dennis sampled the drink and the wassailing party in Southwest England as part of their challenge to find Britain's best Christmas drinks. During the episode "We Two Kings" on the NBC sitcom Frasier , the title character's brother Niles asks to borrow his wassail bowl; when Frasier's father Martin asks why they can't just use
8190-612: Was part of the Duchy of Normandy , whose dukes became kings of England from 1066. After Normandy was lost by the kings of England in the 13th century, and the ducal title surrendered to France, Jersey remained loyal to the English Crown , though it never became part of the Kingdom of England . At the end of the Napoleonic Wars , Jersey was at the frontline of Anglo-French Wars and was invaded
8281-411: Was the warmest (and sunniest) year on record; the mean daily air temperature was 13.56 °C. For tourism advertising, Jersey often claims to be "the sunniest place in the British Isles", as Jersey has over 1,900 hours of sunlight. Jersey is indeed one of the sunniest places in the British Isles, especially during the warmer months, as it is subject to more influence from the Azores High , which acts as
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