Twelfth Night starts at sunset tonight

[SpiralHawk]

And tomorrow -- January 6 -- is Ephiphany, the 12th and final day of Chrismas. Christmas officially ends at sunset on the 6th.

Do you have any Twelfth Night - King's Night traditions to share?

For 3 bonus trivia points, name the Three Kings (not the ones smoking a rubber cigar, either).

Merry Christmas Everyone 1

[Bronco69]

1. Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod?

n/t

[tigereye]

2. I always wished that Christmas continued

for the 12 days and that there were more 12th night traditions. Maybe seeing Shakespeare's play would also be an option. Some arts organizations have had concerts where I live... but I haven't been able to go to any as yet. Although, we certainly continued to visit people, etc and continue to eat all kinds of rich foods up until yesterday! So I guess we were doing the medieval thing to some extent. And I am certainly not ready for work today. :)

I know Melchior was one of the kings, right. Can't think of any others since brain is still in holiday fog.

[Bridget Burke]

3. Caspar, Baltazar, Melchior?

Time to put out the flag!

[markus]

6. Whoo Hooo!

Go wave at the Phorty Phunny Phellows for me as their street car passees by.

Time to put away the Xmas music and start dusting off all those Purple and Yellow tunes (anyone from N'wawlins who has been around a jukebox will know what I mean).

"Oh, becuase, it Carnival time...Everybody's havin' fun!"

[SpiralHawk]

7. Half a clap and a hum for Bridget. Correcto-mundo !

Go to the head of the Christmas Class.

One old tradition is to have a Twelfth Night Party, and bake a cake with a big uncooked bean in it. Whoever gets the bean is the King or Queen for the evening -- and gets the best chair, the best glass, music requests, and all the rest.

But, that person has to give the Twelfth Night party the next year.

Many also like to light candles, and burn frankinsense and myrh.

[happyslug]

4. Orthodox Christmas is January 7th, thus the 12 days can begin again.

Sometime referred to as "old Christmas Day" (This reflected the change from the Julian to Gregorian Clanadars). The Orthodox church (or at least a good portion of Orthodox, some Orthodox do use the Gregorian calendar) still uses the Julian Calendar and December 25th, 2003 Julian is January 7th, 2004 Gregorian.

Thus come Wednesday, we can start Christmas up again.

[Flaxbee]

5. you beat me to it, I was just going to post the Russian Orthodox

date...


One wonders why the retailers haven't taken up the drumbeat yet?

[beawr]

8. And

It's one of my favorite Shakespere Plays....

[SpiralHawk]

9. A beggar a king can be...

'From my fate all can see
That a beggar a king can be

How long does it keep?
Until it's time to sleep'.

(verse on a king letter, 17th century)

http://www.hoogsteder.com/journal/journal7/molenaer.htm

the company would gather round the table for a large meal.

At the start of the evening, one of those present would be chosen as king by casting lots or by serving bean cakes which included a king bean.

The king would then be given a paper crown and would organise the members of the court. Others would be appointed queen, jester, cook, musician, master of ceremonies, taster and porter.

While the king wore a crown, the others would pin a label to their hat or clothes. The highlight of the evening was the moment the king lifted the glass to take the first sip. The company would shout as loudly as possible, "The king drinks!"

Then the meal would begin. Often this would end in a wild free-for-all.

[Zomby Woof]

10. If music be the food of love

Play on!