I write this post on January 6 — also known as Twelfth Night or Epiphany. It’s a significant day for Christians who celebrate Epiphany with church services and rituals. For many, it’s known as ‘Taking Down the Christmas Tree Day’ — as some superstitions suggest a year of bad luck if decorations are put away before January 6. For most people, it’s just another day.
In my family of origin, January 6 was celebrated for two reasons: first, it was my late sister’s birthday; and second, it marked the end of the holiday festivities.
In addition to the birthday cake, we consumed leftover Christmas goodies. Family and friends always visited for food and drink. I remember my parents and other adults singing and dancing to my grandfather’s fiddle music!
After Twelfth Night celebrations, the decorations came down. Christmas was over.
Twelfth Night Origins and Modern Celebrations
In medieval times, Christmas celebrations began on Christmas Eve and continued for twelve days and nights until January 5th or 6th depending on how one counted days and nights. Continuous feasting and revelry marked each day and night. Role reversals, mummers, plays, parades, and storytelling accompanied food and libations, all of which made for merriment. Shakespeare wrote a play to commemorate the day although, the play was first performed some weeks after Twelfth Night!
Some European countries celebrate Twelfth Night with church services, having one’s house blessed, and winter swimming. Last night I watched tv clips of people in Ukraine praying for peace and then taking a dip in a freezing pond to acknowledge the renewal of Epiphany!
January 6 also marks the beginning of preparation for Carnival. In Louisiana and in Caribbean countries, pre-Lenten parties begin signalling the start of Carnival season.
Twelfth Night and Endings
Twelfth Night for me represents both endings and beginnings. Taking down decorations and packing away ornaments and garlands comes with a degree of sadness. It’s one of the ugly jobs of the holidays. The snacks are gone (except for a knob of fruitcake); half-dead Christmas plants need disposal; bits of greenery and glitter on the floors need vacuuming. It’s time to ‘get back to normal’.
The changed schedule during the holidays provided me with a restorative boost. I enjoyed the late nights, the socializing, and the lack of commitments. In December, one is allowed to be a different version of oneself.
January requires a more disciplined approach to retrieve a sense of purpose and well-being. Now that we’re several days into a new year, I look forward to regular exercise classes, playing bridge every week and engaging in familiar routines.
Perhaps traditional Twelfth Night revelry, with its final burst of merrymaking, postpones reality for some people. Just like New Year’s Eve, it is a means of giving closure and marking an ending.
For me, I don’t need a Twelfth Night party. I’ll let go of the holidays by keeping the best memories in my heart. I’ll enjoy the sense of order in my house without the clutter of decorations. I’ll be grateful for the predictability of my daily routines. Although this is an ending, I’ll greet it with a sense of renewal, hopefulness, and optimism.
Happy New Year to my readers! May the months of 2026 bring good fortune and many blessings to each of you!
