Thursday 6 January 2022

January 6th Twelfth Night and Epiphany

Epiphany is the  Christian Feast day marking the visit of  the Wise Men from the East bringing their gifts to the baby Jesus. 

The photo above is from my book 'A Calendar of Saints' and is described as mosaic,S.Apollinaire Nouvo, Ravenna.

January 6th is the day celebrating Balthasar, Caspar and Melchoir  but nowhere in the Gospels does it say there were 3 wise men although as there were three gifts that was deduced early on. In the Book of Psalms it says The Kings of Tharsis and the Isles shall offer presents and the Kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts. This prophecy was soon linked to the wise men and in the 2nd century they were given the names mentioned above.

Twelfth Night has two traditions. First is that all Christmas decorations should be taken down, although years ago Christmas festivities went right on until Candlemas(Feb 2nd) and it was only then that the greenery had to be taken down and burned. 

Secondly it's the day to Wassail the Apple trees when cider was poured on the roots and toast soaked in cider was hung in the branches. 

From the book "Wassail"
 

This tradition was kept going or revived, especially in the West Country and Herefordshire and by me for several years at the smallholding and Clay Cottage. It's going to be years before I see any apples on my baby trees here but perhaps I should pour a carton of apple juice over them to keep the tradition going.

Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
‘Til apples come another year
For to bear well and to bloom well
So merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout to the old apple tree
Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
Hat fulls, cap fulls, three bushel bag fulls
And a little heap under the stair
Hip! Hip! Hooray!

 

Back Tomorrow
Sue

 

23 comments:

  1. I love those illustrations Sue. I will eat an apple today as a nod to the old tradition- that’s as close as I can get!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I may dig out some cider to pour on our tiny apple tree. Thank you for sharing that idea.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have no cider but I could get some water and do the same with my baby apple trees - what a lovely idea, thanks, Sue.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oooh look, the magi are wearing those crazily patterned Snag Tights.(Google them) Clearly very wise guys, as they are would be very warm and comfortable for a long journey

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, they are aren't they ... well spotted Angela. 🤣

      Delete
  5. It is lovely and comforting in a way when keeping the old traditions alive.

    Tomorrow is my eldest brother's birthday and when we were litte Mum would take a chance with bad luck by keeping the decorations up for his day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gorgeous pictures, just look at the colours.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful illustrations. As Angie remarked, the Magi were wearing nice warm tights/leggings. Perhaps fleece lined. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I will take my nativity scene down today now that the 3 kings have arrived. It is the last bit of my decorations that I still have out. Ironically, I am not religious anymore but it is still part of my decorating tradition. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wonder if this would work on my baby fig tree? :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your posts on the churches and traditions. You use some very lovely pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  11. An Amish practice - not on 12th Night, but Easter Sunday- was to beat apple trunks with bats, to provoke good bloom and fruit set! Just in case your little trees could take it! No cider in that area for watering. Laura, Louisiana

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful illustrations. I can remember you wassailing your apple trees on the small holding.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you. The post is just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I might try this on my 2 pear trees. I love old traditions.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, I really enjoyed reading your post, and hope to read more. thank you so much for sharing this informative blog.
    Live Football_បាល់ផ្សាយបន្តផ្ទាល់
    SA GAMING

    ReplyDelete
  16. In some regions of Germany, "Dreikönig" (Three Kings) is a public holiday. There is the tradition of the three children, dressed up as magi, going from house to house, writing C + M + B at the doors. This stands for Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house)or Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, which are said to be the names of the magi. They sing a song or two and ask for money to help poor children and for sweets for themselves. Thanks to Covid, there are no songs this yeare, but we still got the benediction.
    Hilde in Germany

    ReplyDelete
  17. We are hoping to wassail our trees on old twelfth night!! x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely! I didn't know about the wassail. Mother in Law always makes it for Christmas - a little too early it seems

    ReplyDelete