Celebrating Epiphany: A Look at Twelfth Night Traditions Worldwide
Twelfth Night, also known as Epiphany Eve, is a festival observed in many countries around the world. The celebration is held on the night of January 5th, marking the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and the beginning of the Epiphany. The customs and traditions associated with the Twelfth Night vary from country to country, and are deeply rooted in their respective cultures.
In countries like Spain and Mexico, the Twelfth Night is celebrated with the cutting of the Rosca de Reyes (King’s Bread). This is a sweet bread ring adorned with candied fruits, symbolizing the crown of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus. The person who finds the baby Jesus figurine in their slice of bread is responsible for hosting the upcoming Candlemas feast.
In France, the Twelfth Night is known as La Fête des Rois, meaning “The Feast of Kings.” The celebration involves the serving of the Galette des Rois (Kings’ Cake), which is a puff pastry tart filled with almond cream or frangipane. The cake is usually accompanied by a crown made of paper, which is placed on the head of the person who finds the fève (a small porcelain figurine or bean) hidden in their slice, making them the king or queen of the day.
The UK’s Traditional Twelfth Night Cake
The Twelfth Night in the United Kingdom is steeped in traditional customs, such as the wassailing of fruit trees, where revelers walk around orchards singing, making noise and pouring cider over the roots of the trees for a bountiful harvest. Another Twelfth Night tradition in the UK is the production of the Mummers Play, a folk play that involves the enactment of mythical characters, followed by a hearty feast.
In parts of Latin America, particularly in Ecuador and Peru, the Twelfth Night is observed with the Burning of the Old Year, where effigies representing the old year are burned, symbolizing the end of the past and the beginning of the new.
In Greece, the Twelfth Night is marked with the blessing of the waters, where the Epiphany cross is thrown into the sea, and young men dive into the icy waters to retrieve it. Whoever retrieves the cross is said to receive a year of good luck.
Overall, the Twelfth Night is a time of joy, celebration, and tradition. Whether it’s the sharing of sweet bread, the serving of a kings’ cake, the wassailing of fruit trees or the burning of effigies, the Twelfth Night is a time of renewal, reflection and a celebration of culture and customs.