January 5 – Twelfth Night

Today we celebrate Twelfth Night. 

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HOW TO CELEBRATE TWELFTH NIGHT

•  Host a Twelfth Night party!
•  Make a delicious King Cake.
•  Serve a beautiful bowl of Wassail.
•  Watch a Twelfth Night Shakespeare play.
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Every January 5th, loved ones come together to take part in this special occasion. Whether you decide to attend a formal event or organize a small gathering of your own, there’s something for everyone throughout the evening. Many attendants dress up in costumes and join in on the array of activities that could involve playing cards, eating cake and decorated cookies, singing traditional songs, or all those things combined!

Let’s not forget: No celebration is complete without the eating of a delicious King cake. Your taste buds will thank you!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TWELFTH NIGHT

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Twelfth Night was originally celebrated on what is now known as ‘the Epiphany’ which marks the visitation of the Magi to Jesus. The celebration ran from Christmas Eve through until the 12th night when kings were crowned and roles were reversed – servants became masters and masters became servants. It was also thought that this opened up a magical portal allowing cakes to become charmed so somebody would find a bean (or other item) in their cake that would make them king for the day – something that’s still celebrated today in many parts of Europe!

Today the celebration is primarily marked by festivities and merriment, ensuring we end our long Christmas season on a truly joyous note.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE TWELFTH NIGHT

1. Host a Twelfth Night Feast: Prepare a grand meal with traditional foods to celebrate the end of the Christmas season.
2. Perform a Twelfth Night Play: Organize a reading or performance of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
3. Bake a King Cake: Make a King Cake, hiding a small trinket inside for one lucky person to find.
4. Hold a Costume Party: Dress up in historical or festive costumes reminiscent of the Renaissance period.
5. Light a Bonfire: Gather outside and light a bonfire to symbolize the end of the Christmas celebrations.
6. Go Caroling: Sing carols door-to-door or around your neighborhood to spread holiday cheer.
7. Exchange Gifts: Give small, thoughtful gifts to friends and family as a final gesture of holiday giving.
8. Decorate a Twelfth Night Tree: Decorate a tree with lights, candles, and festive ornaments specific to Twelfth Night.
9. Make Twelfth Night Crowns: Craft paper or fabric crowns to wear during your celebration.
10. Enjoy Wassailing: Go wassailing, singing and drinking to the health of the apple trees to ensure a good harvest.
11. Create Twelfth Night Masks: Make and decorate masks to wear for a masquerade-themed celebration.
12. Twelfth Night Storytelling: Share traditional stories and folklore associated with Twelfth Night.
13. Dance to Medieval Music: Play Renaissance or medieval music and dance in the style of the period.
14. Host a Yule Log Burning: Burn a Yule log in the fireplace and share stories or make wishes for the coming year.
15. Organize a Scavenger Hunt: Create a Twelfth Night-themed scavenger hunt for children and adults.
16. Make Clove Oranges: Decorate oranges with cloves to make fragrant pomanders as a festive activity.
17. Serve Twelfth Night Ale: Brew or buy traditional spiced ale to serve to guests during the festivities.
18. Twelfth Night Games: Play traditional parlor games or board games that were popular in the past.
19. Host a Poetry Reading: Read poems, especially those with themes of the season or related to Twelfth Night.
20. Have a Midnight Feast: Stay up late and enjoy a special feast or snacks at midnight to mark the end of the day.
21. Make Twelfth Night Lanterns: Craft paper lanterns to light up your home or yard for the evening.
22. Reflect on the Past Year: Take time to reflect on the past year and share resolutions or hopes for the new year.
23. Host a Charity Event: Organize a small charity event or fundraiser in the spirit of giving and community.
24. Twelfth Night Tea Party: Host an afternoon tea with cakes, pastries, and festive decorations.
25. Decorate Gingerbread Houses: Make and decorate gingerbread houses as a fun and creative activity.
26. Charades: Act out phrases or titles related to Twelfth Night and let others guess what they are.
27. Pass the Parcel: Wrap a small gift in multiple layers of paper and pass it around; unwrap one layer when the music stops.
28. Musical Chairs: Play this classic game with festive music until only one person is left with a chair.
29. Blind Man’s Buff: Blindfold one player and let them try to catch others who move around to avoid being caught.
30. Pin the Star on the Tree: A festive twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” using a Christmas tree and a star.
31. Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of Twelfth Night-themed items for participants to find around the house or yard.
32. Hot Potato: Pass a wrapped “potato” around the circle while music plays; whoever is holding it when the music stops is out.
33. Twelfth Night Trivia: Quiz players on their knowledge of Twelfth Night traditions and history.
34. King Cake Bean Hunt: Hide a bean in a cake, and the person who finds it is crowned king or queen for the evening.
35. Medieval Simon Says: Play Simon Says using commands related to medieval or Twelfth Night customs.
36. Ring Toss: Create a ring toss game with festive targets, such as crowns or stars.
37. Musical Statues: Dance to festive music and freeze when it stops; those who move are out.
38. Tabletop Role-Playing Game: Play a short, festive-themed role-playing game with friends or family.
39. Apple Bobbing: Fill a basin with water and apples, and see who can catch an apple with their teeth.
40. Crown Decorating Contest: Have participants decorate paper crowns, and vote on the best one.
41. Pictionary: Draw Twelfth Night-related scenes or items and have others guess what they are.
42. Guess the Spice: Blindfold participants and have them guess spices or herbs by smell.
43. Medieval Costume Contest: Have a costume contest where participants dress in medieval or festive attire.
44. Story Cubes: Use story cubes to create and tell festive stories collaboratively.
45. Twelfth Night Bingo: Create bingo cards with Twelfth Night-related words or images.
46. Charity Auction: Hold a mock auction with fun items, using fake money to bid.
47. Folk Dance: Learn and perform a simple folk dance together.
48. Guess the Carol: Play snippets of Christmas carols and see who can name them the fastest.
49. Medieval Board Games: Play traditional board games like chess or checkers with a medieval twist.
50. Twelfth Night Fortune Telling: Create fun, light-hearted fortunes or predictions for the coming year.
51.  Make a Twelfth Night Crown: Create decorative crowns using paper, jewels, and glitter for everyone to wear.
52. Craft a King Cake: Bake a traditional King Cake and hide a small trinket inside.
53. Design Twelfth Night Masks: Use craft supplies to design and decorate masks for a masquerade.
54. Create Paper Lanterns: Make and decorate paper lanterns to light up the evening.
55. Assemble Clove Oranges: Decorate oranges with cloves to make fragrant pomanders.
56. Build a Yule Log Centerpiece: Craft a decorative Yule log for the table using natural materials and candles.
57. Decorate Gingerbread Houses: Use icing and candy to decorate gingerbread houses.
58. Handcraft Twelfth Night Cards: Create and write festive cards to exchange with family and friends.
59. Sew Festive Stockings: Make and decorate stockings using fabric and sewing supplies.
60. Make a Wassail Bowl: Craft a bowl for wassail, a traditional holiday drink, and decorate it.
61. Create a Garland: String together dried fruits, nuts, and popcorn to make a festive garland.
62. Design a Star Ornament: Craft star-shaped ornaments from paper, wood, or clay.
63. Make Candle Holders: Decorate candle holders using paint, glitter, and other craft materials.
64. Craft a Festive Wreath: Assemble a wreath using evergreen branches, berries, and ribbons.
65. Paint Wooden Figures: Decorate wooden figures like angels, stars, or wise men.
66. Make Felt Ornaments: Sew and decorate felt ornaments in the shapes of stars, crowns, and other festive symbols.
67. Create a Photo Booth: Make a backdrop and props for a Twelfth Night-themed photo booth.
68. Build a Fairy House: Use natural materials to create a small house for fairies as a whimsical craft.
69. Handcraft Potpourri: Mix dried flowers, spices, and essential oils to make fragrant potpourri.
70. Decorate Candle Jars: Paint and embellish glass jars to hold candles.
71. Make a Festive Banner: Create a banner with festive phrases or images using fabric or paper.
72. Craft Twelfth Night Pins: Make wearable pins or brooches using felt, fabric, and decorative items.
73. Design Table Place Cards: Create personalized place cards for a Twelfth Night dinner.
74. Make a Paper Mache Mask: Create and decorate a mask using paper mache techniques.
75. Handcraft Soap: Make and mold festive-scented soaps to give as gifts or use during the celebration.
76. King Cake: A traditional Twelfth Night cake with a hidden bean or trinket, often decorated with colorful icing.
77. Wassail: A hot, spiced cider drink traditionally enjoyed during winter festivities.
78. Roast Goose: A classic main dish often served at festive gatherings, roasted to perfection.
79. Mince Pies: Small pies filled with a mixture of dried fruits, spices, and sometimes meat, a traditional holiday treat.
80. Twelfth Night Tart: A fruit tart made with a variety of seasonal fruits and a flaky pastry crust.
81. Galette des Rois: A French puff pastry cake filled with almond cream, also containing a hidden trinket.
82. Honey-Glazed Ham: A succulent ham glazed with honey and spices, perfect for a festive dinner.
83. Gingerbread Cookies: Spiced cookies often decorated with icing and shaped like festive figures.
84. Figgy Pudding: A steamed pudding made with figs, spices, and often soaked in brandy.
85. Mulled Wine: Red wine heated with spices, citrus, and sugar, a warm festive beverage.
86. Stuffed Mushrooms: Mushrooms filled with a savory mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, and cheese.
87. Apple Cider Donuts: Donuts made with apple cider, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.
88. Spiced Nuts: Nuts roasted with a mixture of sugar, salt, and spices for a crunchy snack.
89. Baked Brie: Brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry and baked until gooey, often served with fruit preserves.
90. Saffron Buns: Sweet buns flavored with saffron and often studded with raisins or currants.
91. Peppermint Bark: Layers of chocolate and white chocolate topped with crushed peppermint candies.
92. Eggnog: A creamy, spiced drink made with milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, often spiked with rum or brandy.
93. Chestnut Soup: A rich, creamy soup made from roasted chestnuts, perfect for a winter evening.
94. Candied Fruit: Pieces of fruit cooked in sugar syrup until they become sweet and translucent.
95. Shortbread Cookies: Buttery cookies that can be shaped into festive designs and decorated.
96. Yorkshire Pudding: Savory popover made from a simple batter, traditionally served with roast beef.
97. Plum Pudding: A dense, steamed pudding made with dried fruits, spices, and often aged with alcohol.
98. Sugarplums: Confection made from dried fruits, nuts, and spices, rolled into balls and coated with sugar.
99. Beef Wellington: Beef tenderloin coated with pâté and duxelles, wrapped in puff pastry and baked.
100. Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb: Rack of lamb coated with a mixture of herbs and breadcrumbs, roasted to perfection.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate Twelfth Night?  Please share them!