The Twelve Posts of Christmas - Day Twelve: A Brief History of the Twelve Days of Christmas

 

For many, Christmas ends on 25 December, or the day after Boxing Day. The decorations come down, television schedules return to normal, and attention turns to the celebrations for the New Year.

Yet traditionally, Christmas is not a single day at all — it is a season. At the heart is the Twelve Days of Christmas, a period with its own history, symbolism and tradition.

In mediaeval and early modern Europe, this twelve-day period was a time for celebration, feasting, music and social gatherings. Work was often suspended, and each day held its own significance within the Christian calendar.

Twelfth Night: The Final Celebration

It begins on Christmas Day (25 December) and ends on Twelfth Night (5 January), which just happens to be today.

The beginning of the Twelve Days of Christmas can be misunderstood. It is often assumed they lead up to Christmas Day rather than beginning on it. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when the celebrations of Christmas carried on into the new year.

In earlier centuries, however, Christmas Day was the start of the celebrations, not the finale. Decorations traditionally remained in place until Twelfth Night, after which it was considered unlucky to keep them up.

Twelfth Night, on 5 January, was historically one of the most important nights of the Christmas season. It marked the end of festivities and was often celebrated with parties, plays, music and the sharing of a special Twelfth Night cake. The cake sometimes contained a hidden bean or coin. Whoever found it would be crowned “King” or “Queen” of the festivities for the evening. The tradition of role reversal — servants becoming masters, rules being relaxed.

Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night takes its name from this tradition of misrule and celebration.

Then there is the song. The 12 Days of Christmas, which chronicles the Christmas gifts presented to the singer by their true love.

1. A Partridge in a pear tree
2. Turtle doves
3. French hens
4. Calling birds
5. Gold rings
6. Geese a-laying
7. Swans a-swimming
8. Maids a-milking
9. Ladies dancing
10. Lords a-leaping
11. Pipers piping
12. Drummers drumming

I remember it at school, singing it over and over. Of course, being naughty schoolboys, we made up our own version. probably far too naughty to mention here. But in the school assembly, we had to sing the correct version.

Just Another Day

I suppose that now, Twelfth Night has become just another day — a working day for many people. It is now a tradition lost in history to the requirements of modern life.

The holiday, especially if you were fortunate to have twelve days, was nice while it lasted.

Normal life is now back.

 

 

Image by HappyEnd from Pixabay