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TWELFTH NIGHT REVELS (J8x40)
Bill Zobel & Muriel Johnstone
1- 8
1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 2s, 1s cross RH back to place, 1s+2s set to
partner
9-16
1s & 2s turn ¾ RH, 1M+2L turn 1½ times LH while 1L+2M chase ½
way, 2s & 1s turn ¾ RH
17-24
1s dance ½ reel of 3 on sides (RSh to 3
rd
corner), 1s cross up/down to
continue reel on opposite sides & end in middle BtoB (1L facing up)
25-32
1s dance 4 bars of Crown Triangles ending 2
nd
place own sides, all
turn partners RH
33-40
2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back
Twelfth Night is a festival in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany. In 567 the
Council of Tours proclaimed that the entire period between Christmas and Epiphany should be considered part of
the celebration, creating what became known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. On the last of the twelve days,
called Twelfth Night, various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities. In Ireland it is still
the tradition to place the statues of the Three Kings in the crib on Twelfth Night or, at the latest, the following
Day (Little Christmas). Different traditions hold the date of Twelfth Night as either 5
th
or 6
th
January and much
discussion revolves around the start time, as festivals would start from dusk (or 6pm) one day and continue
through until dusk the following day. So ‘Twelfth Night’ could be January 5
th
and ‘Twelfth Night (Day)’ would be
January 6
th
!
Around the world, special pastries, such as the tortell and king cake are baked on
Twelfth Night, and eaten the following day for the Feast of the Epiphany
celebrations. In English and French custom, the Twelfth-cake was baked to
contain a bean. The person who found the bean would rule the feast as the Lord
of Misrule and the King and all those who were high would become the peasants
and vice versa. Midnight signalled the end of his rule and the world would return
to normal. The common theme was that the normal order of things was reversed.
This Lord of Misrule tradition dates back to pre-Christian European festivals such
as the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia.
Drury Lane Theatre in London has a continuing tradition since 1795 of providing a Twelfth Night cake. The will of
Robert Baddeley made a bequest of £100 to provide cake and punch every year for the company in residence at
the theatre on 6 January.
In parts of the UK, the punch called wassail is consumed, throughout Christmas time but especially on Twelfth
Night.
In colonial America, a Christmas wreath was put up on the front door of each home, and when taken down at the
end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, any edible portions would be consumed with the other foods of the feast.
The same held true in the Victorian era with fruits adorning Christmas trees. Again, the tree would be taken
down on Twelfth Night, and such fruits, along with nuts and other local produce used, would then be eaten. A
belief has arisen that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night, a tradition
originally attached to the festival of Candlemas (2 February) which celebrates the Presentation of Jesus at the
Temple.
In medieval and Tudor England, the Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows
Eve (Halloween).
In some countries, the Twelfth Night and Epiphany mark the start of the Carnival season, which lasts through
Mardi Gras Day. Modern American carnival traditions shine most brightly in New Orleans, where friends gather for
weekly King Cake parties. Whoever gets the slice with the "king", usually in the form of a miniature baby doll
(symbolic of the Christ Child, "Christ the King"), hosts next week's party.