Arts and Culture

Heart and Hearth: An on-air Christmas party

christmas party
“Heart and Hearth” is a special broadcast from MPR News. Join host Jacob Aloi and the MPR News arts team for an hour of music, storytelling and holiday merriment.
Alex V. Cipolle

In England, the tradition of wassailing brings neighbors into each other’s homes to sing, drink and revel in each other's company.

This Christmas, the MPR News arts team is inviting you to join us for “Heart and Hearth,” an on-air wassailing party. Join host Jacob Aloi and some special guests for an hour of music, storytelling and festive recipes. 

Listen live on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. and Christmas Day at 10 a.m.

Towards the end of the show, you’ll have the opportunity to sing along to “The Gloucestershire Wassail.”

The lyrics for the refrain are below:

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 a wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee.

Special Thanks to the Guthrie Theater, Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence, Jake Endres, Benjamin Percy, Dale Mulfinger, W.A. Frost and Company, Kyra Miles, The Aly Aleigha Band and many others.

“Heart and Hearth” is hosted and produced by Jacob Aloi, with support from Jeff Jones and story editing by Max Sparber. Alex Simpson served as the technical director. The fireplace story was reported by senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle, and the segment featuring the Aly Aleigha Band was reported by digital producer Anika Besst.