Twelfth Night Merry-Making

Twelfth Night Merry-Making, originally uploaded by confections.

Tonight is Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany. A handmade Befana is perched on my front door wreath; she will greet the dawn of Epiphany, Three Kings day.

Our celebrations have mellowed over the years, but we used to have wild Twelfth Night parties at our house, complete with a cake containing a bean or charm. Whoever found the bean became the Lord or Lady of Misrule for the evening, and would lead us in whatever pranks they chose.

Rousing music and dance--and plenty of good food and drink--were hallmarks of this celebration. I hope you have a great Twelfth Night and Epiphany.

"If music be the food of love, play on!"

Shakespeare, from "Twelfth Night"

The above illustration is used with a Creative Commons attribution.

Happy Russian Christmas!

Vintage Czechoslovakian Handcrafted Doll, originally uploaded by confections.

Today, January 7th, is Russian Christmas. I don't officially celebrate it, but my tree is still up and I definitely kick up my heels on Twelfth Night (January 5th) and Epiphany. I love honoring all twelve days of Christmas.

This vintage Czechoslovakian doll is the unofficial Goddess of my sister's kitchen. This year my sister handmade pierogi for our New Year's festivities, and the doll cast an approving eye over the meal. So here's to celebrating into the New Year!

Musical interlude:

One of my favorite carols is "In the Bleak Mid-Winter".

Another is "To Drive the Cold Winter Away", which you can hear at Cantaria.

Loreena McKennitt has a spellbinding CD by the same name which includes many traditional Christmas carols.

"May you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year!" (from the Russian Christmas Eve Blessing)