Twelfth Night and 12 Days of Christmas
The Wikipedia article on Twelfth Night currently begins confusingly: "Twelfth Night (January 5th? 6th?)".
This is because at the Twelve Days of Christmas discussion page (my user name is Alpheus) I have maintained that the Twelve Days are Dec 26 - Jan 6 inclusive and that Twelfth Night is January 6 and not the 5th (which the article, which is linked from January 5 in Wikipedia, said before). The link on January 5 which currently and confusingly says "The eleventh day of Christmas in Western Christianity, and the Twelfth Night of Christmas in Western Christianity" should be removed.
However, I will not make the changes yet as I believe some discussion is required first. As I see it, the solution depends on whether Twelfth Night celebrations were made on January 5th or 6th, and I note that celebrations were held on both Twelfth-Night Eve (Jan 5) and Twelfth Night (Jan 6), but the latter were the main ones.
The best sources I know to quote are Sir James Frazer, William Hone and Robert Chambers, all expert 19th-century British folklorists. Frazer says "The last of the mystic twelve days is Epiphany or Twelfth Night", and Epiphany is January 6 -- I know some will say it began on the Eve but that was called Twelfth-Night Eve or Epiphany Eve and had different festivities. Hone says the Twelfth Night celebrations were on the night of January 6 (and the lesser ones on January 5 were called Twelfth-Night Eve).
Chambers also asserts that although there were some apparently minor "rustic" festivals in England on January 5 (Twelfth-Night Eve), the main Twelfth Night festivities were on the next night, ie, the night of Twelfth Day (January 6). I have suggested at Wikipedia that unless someone betters these sources within a reasonable amount of time, any Wikipedian should make the changes required on the various pages.
In the meantime, the Book of Days will continue to have the First Day of Christmas, and Twelfth Night just where they are, at December 26 and January 6 respectively. I have made some more notes at January 5.
However, I welcome your comments on this if you have any further ideas, thanks.
Tagged: wikipedia, folklore, customs, lore, christmas, christianity, festivals, religion, uk, britain, europe, calendar+customs
This is because at the Twelve Days of Christmas discussion page (my user name is Alpheus) I have maintained that the Twelve Days are Dec 26 - Jan 6 inclusive and that Twelfth Night is January 6 and not the 5th (which the article, which is linked from January 5 in Wikipedia, said before). The link on January 5 which currently and confusingly says "The eleventh day of Christmas in Western Christianity, and the Twelfth Night of Christmas in Western Christianity" should be removed.
However, I will not make the changes yet as I believe some discussion is required first. As I see it, the solution depends on whether Twelfth Night celebrations were made on January 5th or 6th, and I note that celebrations were held on both Twelfth-Night Eve (Jan 5) and Twelfth Night (Jan 6), but the latter were the main ones.
The best sources I know to quote are Sir James Frazer, William Hone and Robert Chambers, all expert 19th-century British folklorists. Frazer says "The last of the mystic twelve days is Epiphany or Twelfth Night", and Epiphany is January 6 -- I know some will say it began on the Eve but that was called Twelfth-Night Eve or Epiphany Eve and had different festivities. Hone says the Twelfth Night celebrations were on the night of January 6 (and the lesser ones on January 5 were called Twelfth-Night Eve).
Chambers also asserts that although there were some apparently minor "rustic" festivals in England on January 5 (Twelfth-Night Eve), the main Twelfth Night festivities were on the next night, ie, the night of Twelfth Day (January 6). I have suggested at Wikipedia that unless someone betters these sources within a reasonable amount of time, any Wikipedian should make the changes required on the various pages.
In the meantime, the Book of Days will continue to have the First Day of Christmas, and Twelfth Night just where they are, at December 26 and January 6 respectively. I have made some more notes at January 5.
However, I welcome your comments on this if you have any further ideas, thanks.
Tagged: wikipedia, folklore, customs, lore, christmas, christianity, festivals, religion, uk, britain, europe, calendar+customs
Pip Wilson posted item above at 4:20 PM | Permalink
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