ore Than a Play

by Sevrin Lord de Savage
welfth Night is the Feast of the Epiphany ... a Greek term referring to the point where a god traveling among men makes himself (or herself) manifest. The manifestation in this case being of the infant Christ to the Three Wise Men, (the Magi). The "Twelve Days of Christmas" refers to the period between Christmas and Epiphany. Prior to modern times it was customary for gifts to be given on Epiphany rather than Christmas itself, in commemoration of the gifts presented by the Magi.
n the Middle Ages Epiphany was celebrated by a major religious service sometimes marked by suspending a large "Star of Bethlehem" from the Rood Loft or "in the Body of the Church". This service was followed by large local celebrations, masques, revelry and gift-giving. It was the last of the merry-making before the beginning of preparation for plowing - (the first Monday after Twelfth Night was sometimes referred to as "Plough Day" or "Plough Monday"). Some of the revelry of Twelfth Night included a "Bean King", "Christmas King" or "Lord of Misrule", determined by a bean, coin, or a figurine of an infant (representing the infant Christ) hidden in a cake - the person who received the special piece "ruled" over the celebration.