Twelfth Night

When Christmas really lasted 12 days the Twelfth Night celebrations, on the evening of the 5th, were second only to those of Christmas Day.

Tomorrow, Epiphany, the Wise Men arrive in Bethlehem with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the infant Jesus suggesting his birth as king, priest, and saviour.

In Tudor England wealthy folk held elaborate pageants and exchanged expensive gifts on the 12th night. There was the Twelfth Cake. One place where it is still served tonight is at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. In 1794 Robert Baddeley, a former cook turned actor, died at the theatre, leaving a will providing for the cost to celebrate in his memory every Twelfth Night. After the evening's performance they are served wine and slices of Baddeley cake by attendants in 18th century dress.

It is also wassailing time, which involves gathering around orchard trees and making as much noise as possible: singing, beating saucepan lids, playing musical instruments and firing shot guns. The object is to ward off evil spirits intent on ruining the crop and waking up the trees in good time for the exertions of the months ahead. The derivation of the word via old English and Norse is to do with being in good health.

More spiritually appropriate to the move from Christmas to Epiphany is the tradition of England's sovereign presenting the traditional gifts at the crib in the chapel Royal of St James Palace. This is an act of humility and dedication of the earthly monarch to the heavenly prince.

We might celebrate the ending of the 12 days of Christmas by making our offering to the new born king:

What shall I bring him, poor as I am.
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man I would play my part.
Yet what shall I give him? Give my heart.