For most of my life I had no idea that the Christmas carol I had fun memorizing as a child, The 12 Days of Christmas, was based on an ancient feast that ran for twelve days and that it ended with the Epiphany. I knew that the Epiphany was a holy day but not really much more. Well, as I was digging through family history and learning about my ancestors in the context of the times they lived in, I found what must have been a wonderful time to experience.
I hope I don’t lose you with a little explanation that I needed wrapped my head around before the fun part. The Epiphany is a Christian holiday that commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his first miracle, at Cana in Galilee. The word epiphany come from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or “appearance”. The Epiphany is one of the three principal and oldest festival days of the Christian church (the other two are Easter and Christmas).
The Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 in western churches, and on January 19 in some eastern orthodox churches. The evening before Epiphany is called Twelfth Night (remember the twelve days of Christmas, this is the origin), and the time between December 25 and January 6 is known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. This is relatively new to me of the origins, and I believe it is a loss of culture. The Epiphany has various traditions involving water, gifts, and pastries, and reflecting themes of baptism, revelation, and worship.
In our modern world most of us are familiar with the secular meaning of the word. The Epiphany can also refer to a sudden insight or realization that changes one’s perspective or understanding of something. This sense of epiphany is often elegantly used in literature to show a character’s transformation or growth. For example, in James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the protagonist Tephen Dedalus has several epiphanies that shape his artistic and religious identity.
I kind of feel like I could use more of both versions of epiphany in my life on the regular. The ancient traditions have much to teach us that we have forgotten or didn’t know.
Imagine Advent as contemplative reflection rather than the modern celebrations through the month of December, followed by twelve days of feasting and celebration ending in a meaningful transformation.
If you think Christmas is a long and festive season now, you might be surprised to know that in the old days Christmas was not just one day, but a series of religious fest days that last for 12 full days, from December 25 to January 5. During this time, people enjoyed various traditions, customs and entertainments that made Christmas the most joyful and merry time of the year. December 25 was not the big day; it was just the beginning.
One of the most important traditions was feasting. After fasting for four weeks during Advent and on Christmas Eve, people were ready to indulge in rich and delicious foods on Christmas Day and throughout the 12 days. Depending on their social status, people ate different kinds of meats, pies, puddings, fruits, and spices. The wealthy and royalty enjoyed exotic delicacies like salmon, venison, boar, crayfish, eels, and porpoise, while poorer people had goose or bacon as a festive treat. Everyone drank plenty of ale, cider, or wine to wash down their food.
Another important tradition was decorating their homes with evergreen plants like holly, ivy, mistletoe, and laurel. These plants symbolized eternal life and were thought to bring good luck if brought into the home on Christmas Eve. They were also used to make wreaths, garlands, and kissing boughs that added color and cheer to their interiors. This part survives to the modern day but it’s interesting to know the origins.
A third tradition was playing games and having fun. People enjoyed various forms of entertainment during the 12 days, such as carols, dancing, mumming (dressing up in costumes and performing plays), hoggling (going from house to house asking for food or money) and participating in the Feast of Fools (a mock celebration where roles were reversed, and a King of Misrule was elected). These activities were meant to create a festive atmosphere and foster social bonding among different classes of people. The Feast of Fools sounds like Halloween for adults on steroids. Wow wouldn’t that be fun!
What a way to face a new year through the dark days of winter and come out transformed on the other side. It feels like we lost something important over the centuries that I feel like I’ve been yearning for as the family historian and a person. Who couldn’t use more celebrating in their lives as we slog through the dark days of winter? There are a few days left; why not figure out how to bring some of that back?
Our Humble Road 