Twelfth Night For Some; Epiphany For All

Epiphany                                                          Jaime Huguet, Spain, about 1464

Today is Epiphany, the celebration of the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and their recognition or revelation of Him as the King of Kings. There is but one popular American carol for the celebration of Epiphany. It was written by the Episcopal clergyman, John Henry Hopkins, Jr., and appeared in print in 1863 in a collection of his sacred music.

According to some traditions Epiphany may include the celebration of Twelfth Night, the beginning of the forty day carnival season which ends the day before Lent. If you follow the tradition that December 26, is the first day of Christmas, you celebrate Twelfth Night on January 6. This is the case in New Orleans.where the Twelve Days of Christmas will end with elaborate costumes, masks, feasting, music, dancing, and theater at Twelfth Night festivities where misrule is the only rule. They are indeed topsy-turvy events. Only the Surveyor of Ceremonies will appear without a mask. He will direct the company through a series of games and other activities beginning with the distribution of the Twelfth Cakes. When all the party goers have arrived, each will select a small festival cake or cake slice. Three of those cakes contain a hidden bean or token designating them as the king cake, queen cake and fool cake. The lucky holders of the royal cakes oversee the evening's activities before returning to their normal lives, most likely "below the salt."

Twelfth Night in New Orleans 1884

We trust that you have experienced a wonder-filled Christmas. May you live throughout this new year in the spirit of Twelfth Night, finding joy and happiness in what often seems a disordered world. Those who are reluctant to bid Christmas farewell can take heart knowing that the tradition of Christmastide extends through February 2 or Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Our family practice of late has focused on the Twelve Days of Christmas where all decorations are in place. Natural greenery stays as long as possible while all other decoration remain until February 2 to ward off the depths of winter.