It's Twelfth Night!

Today is "Twelfth Night!" (or 12th Night). I've always liked 12th Night because it extends Christmas for me. Also, remember the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" wherein the singer had received a whole crowd of folks, animals and things by the 12th Night? Someone had to put a stop to it somehow. The composer had probably been crowded out of house and home by that time! 12th Night is also known as "Epiphany" and the "Feast of the Three Kings." All of which are variations on various Christian themes. Tho' according to Wikipedia, the celebration may also have its roots in Celtic or Roman pagan observances which predate Christianity.

In spite of the fact that my parents were both raised with comprehensive training in the Anglican church, our family usually celebrated the main holidays (or holy days) in a much more pagan fashion. (Still do.) By the time my sister and I arrived on the scene, religion was no longer observed in our house. However, in my parents' English/Irish cultural lexicon (duly inculcated upon us children), 12th Night signalled the end of the Christmas season. They taught us that 12th Night marked the time when all one's Christmas decorations needed to come down, and be put away for another year.

12th Night was made ceremonial by the giving of one last gift (if you wished) to each other, a special dinner was made to mark the occasion, and sometimes, Christmas music would be played. Afterwards, all the Christmas decorations were put into boxes to go to the storage room the next day, and the tree was relegated to the garage where it would wait to be taken to the town chipper to become mulch. (A practice I heartily endorse in the spirit of recycling and renewal.) When we finished, the house would look weirdly naked - not to mention, really boring to my young eyes. Fortunately, my parents would keep the outside lights on in the evenings 'til the end of January, so the transition didn't feel so completely damning.

These days I tend to stretch the meaning of 12th Night to the following weekend simply because a mid-week celebration is sometimes impossible to pull off. As long as the Christmas tree hasn't become a fire hazard, I figure we're good. And I confess - since the early winter evenings can be very gloomy and depressing after the joy of Christmas - often, I will keep the Christmas lights up in my window through February to give me something cheery to see.

Happy 12th Night to you all! So long Christmas spirit. See you next time.