S’more Christmas: The Twelfth Days of Awesome!
We are getting into the homestretch, people! Today, I, S’more the elf, am talking about twelfth day of the 12 days of Christmas!
This year is my Christmastide era, and I have been researching all the fun holidays from Christmas Day to Epiphany. It turns out that most of us in America are totally missing out on the true joy of the holiday season that lasts far past Advent and Christmas Day.
The twelve days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day and continue all the way to Twelfth Night, the night before Epiphany, aka Kings Day.
When do we celebrate?
If you read our first post, you know that each day of Christmas could be one of two days depending on how you look at it. If you want to know why or why that matters, you can read our First Day of Awesomeness blog. However, on the Seventh & Eighth Day of Christmas blog, I had an epiphany! (See what I did there? Epiphany!) Trust me: We are going to send a recap of all twelve days, and it will all make sense.
Long story short, we are ready to talk about January 5th.
The twelfth day of Christmas is one of the “Forefeasts of the Theophany” which just means that it is one of the last three feast days that lead up to Epiphany. In fact, the Twelfth Day of Christmas is, also, called Epiphany Eve.
How to celebrate the twelfth day of Christmas?
Each of the 12 Days of Christmas is a “feast day” or holiday to celebrate a different saint or Bible story.
You may have noticed that most of the Christmastide season is a chance to rest and relax. So, the Twelfth Day is a last chance to party before people go back to school and work.
Twelfth Night Party Traditions!
Twelfth Night is the perfect chance to have one final party to kick off Epiphany the next day.
Serve King Cake!
Because Epiphany is the celebration of the arrival of the Wise Men at the Nativity, King Cake is a traditional food to serve. It’s also the kickoff to Mardi Gras season!
H-E-B sells a great Mardi Gras King Cake, if you don’t have time to bake your own.
In Spain, the traditional cake is called a Roscon de Reyes, which means King’s Ring. Both Mardi Gras and Dia de los Reyes happen on Epiphany and are celebrated with a ring-shaped cake.
The main idea is to serve a round cake with a hidden bean or plastic “Baby Jesus” to search for. You might even try baking up our famous Cider Donut Cake! The person who finds the “Baby Jesus” is King for the night and can bring the next cake or host the next party.
Blessings & Good Luck Traditions!
Finding the “Baby Jesus” in the cake is good luck, but so is waiting until Epiphany to take down your Christmas decorations! So, don’t take down your ornaments just yet.
Other traditions include chalking the door and blessing the home for the new year.
Watch Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Long time ago, people celebrated Twelfth Night and Epiphany (and some other Christmastide holidays) with role reversals. The person who finds the “Baby Jesus” (whether that person is wealthy or poor, popular or unpopular) is king for a day! Lords and ladies served their servants. Servants got to boss their bosses around. People dress and act like things they aren’t.
William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night has lots of role reversals, too. It’s one of his romantic comedies. So, it’s a fun way to celebrate the holiday.
It’s all in good fun.
Drink Wassail and Carol!
It’s your last chance until the Christmas season returns to be Christmas-y! (Just kidding, you can be Christmas-y anytime) So, raise a glass of wassail to everyone’s health and break into “Do You See What I See”.
The Celebration Continues
Join us next month. We will discover more history and traditions of Epiphany and “Celebrate Always.” (I Thessalonians 5:16)
Merry Christmas,
S’more
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