What is Twelfth Night? Why do we mark it on the 5th January 2018?
CHRISTMAS is over but families across Britain still are waiting until Twelfth Night before taking down their Christmas decorations. But what is 12th night and why does it fall on the 5th of January?
Decorating your home for Christmas has been a tradition for centuries but knowing when it’s time to take them down leaves many of us confused. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Twelfth Night?
Twelfth Night is a Christian festival marking the coming of Epiphany, another Christian feast day on January 6 which is associated with the Three Wise Men visiting Jesus.
Although the Church of England marks Twelfth Night on January 5, some other Christian groups argue that it actually falls on January 6.
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The name comes from the Christian tradition of celebrating Christmas for a season of 12 days, starting on December 25.
Twelfth Night has its origins in Candlemas, a Christian holy day centered around the presentation of Jesus at the temple.
Under this tradition, it became customary to believe that leaving up Christmas decorations past the Twelfth Night was unlucky - something we still carry on today.
It was believed that that all firs and associated greenery, such as holly and ivy, needed to come down on Twelfth Night to set free sheltering spirits.
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Failing to do so would stop greenery growing back in the spring and lead to agricultural problems and food shortages.
Other popular Twelfth Night customs include carol singing, attending church services and blessing homes by chalking patterns on the door.
Why do we mark Twelfth Night on January 5?
Although the Church of England - along with other branches of western Christianity - say Twelfth Night happens on January 5, not everyone agrees.
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The discrepancy depends on whether you count the twelve days of Christmas as starting on Christmas Day (December 25) or the day after (December 26).
Taking down decorations a day too soon or late is considered unlucky. Those households that have forgotten, may decide leave all their festive baubles and Christmas trees up until Candlemas.
But up until the 19th century it was traditional to leave decorations up until Candlemas, which falls on February 2.
The trend really changed in Britain when Prince Albert popularised having a Christmas tree in the Victorian era.
Russia's ice plunge for Epiphany
Mon, January 19, 2015Epiphany feastday commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Orthodox believers marked Epiphany on January 19 by immersing themselves in icy waters regardless of the weather.
A man immerses himself in an ice hole in the Sea of Japan during celebrations for Russian Orthodox Epiphany in Vladivostok
However, many Christians in Eastern Europe don’t follow the January 5 rule. For example, Russians celebrate Christmas Day on January 7.
Christian children were also traditionally told that taking down your decorations before the Eve of Epiphany meant the three wise men wouldn’t be able to find baby Jesus.
But the majority of us now adhere to January 5, with some people keen to take down their Christmas decorations even sooner after New Year Day's.
