"Going Yule Goat" is similar to the British custom wassailing, both with roots. The song was sung in parts of England during the days of wassailing. The Mari Lwyd () is a wassailing folk custom found in South Wales. Traditional Elizabethan Christmas festivities alluded to in the carol include wassailing, feasting, and theatre performances. Wassailing is an ancient English Christmastime drinking ritual. Wassailing was held on each 21 December until 1939.