Every year, children and adults build up a head of steam for the Christmas holidays. Then the magical day comes and goes too quickly, leaving scraps of wrapping paper and half-munched cookies all around the house, as well as the nagging feeling that someone special has been left off the greeting and gifting list.
Everything from those chocolate-filled Advent calendars, hastily discarded on Christmas Eve as the last morsel is devoured, to the rush for New Year's sales make it all seem as though Christmas is nothing more than a few hours of celebrations. It need not be so. For many, the day marking Christ's birth is only the beginning of the holiday that continues until January 6 when Epiphany (or Three Kings Day) is celebrated to remember the visitation of the Three Wise Men.
Of Cakes and Kings
Spanish and Latin American cultures celebrate the Day of the Kings, called la Fiesta de Reyes, el Dia de los Tres Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos. Holland has its Driekoningendag. For these cultures and others, January 6th is often the day for giving gifts. French and English celebrations included a special cake, either King Cake, opens a new window or Twelfth Night Cake.
Now that you've made a cake for yourself, invite others to come in and share Old Christmas with you. A later holiday party is exactly the thing for that five-pound wheel of cheddar and several dozen petit fours that came your way on the 25th. A Twelfth Night party can be as simple as a few friends gathering for a good meal or as elaborate as a medieval feast, opens a new window, depending on the whim of the hosts. Think about working in the silly traditions of Daft Days where the King of Fools reigns, playing pranks and causing mischief. The drama people among you may wish to try their hands at a mummer's play, opens a new window. Saint George and the Dragon, opens a new window was a great favorite in medieval times. Hoist a mug of mulled cider or wine and sing Wassail (from the Old English wes hal, to be in good health) and celebrate a New Year well started.
Books to Share
The visit of the Three Wise Men has inspired some lovely children's stories. Amahl and the Night Visitors, opens a new window tells how a poor young shepherd comes to accompany the three Kings on their way to pay homage to the newborn Jesus. Baboushka and the Three Kings, opens a new window, winner of the Caldecott Medal, opens a new window, is the story of an old woman who comes to regret that she was too busy to go with the Wise Men. Tomie dePaola's The Story of the Three Wise Kings, opens a new window teams the classic story with the author-artist's simple illustrations. Jan Brett's The Twelve Days of Christmas, opens a new window gives the old song a rousing silliness that children will love as the gifts become ever more extravagant.
Learn More About the Twelve Days of Christmas on the Web
Another Look at Christmas in the 18th Century, opens a new window
Learn how people in 18th-century Virginia prepared for Christmas. A page from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Christine O'Keeffe's Twelfth Night Page, opens a new window
Twelfth Night is part of the end of the year festivities of the British Isles and France. Celebrations began in the fifth century when French and English churches created The Feast of Fools. Temporary Bishops and Archbishops of Fools play-acted revealed and created mischief.
Young ones can enjoy these books about the 12 days of Christmas - both the illustrated versions of the carol and traditional story of the kings' visitation:
