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Mark your calendars for January 5, to celebrate the tradition of Twelfth Night! This historic festival is a grand close to the Christmas season, signifying the visit of the Three Wise Men or Magi to the baby Jesus. Heavily influenced by Tudor England, Twelfth Night is also famous for being the date when all Christmas decorations should be taken down. However, it's not all work and no play! Traditionally a night for merriment and revelry, Twelfth Night is often associated with Shakespeare's romantic comedy of the same name. Used as a plot device in the story, the holiday becomes a stage of comic chaos and fun-filled mishaps that have delighted audiences for centuries. So, go ahead and lose yourself in the festive spirit of Twelfth Night and the charming swirl of merry confusion!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>567</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Council of Tours Establishment</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Council of Tours established the period between Christmas and Epiphany as a sacred and festive season, paving the way for Twelfth Night celebrations.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1400s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Tudor Revelries</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the Tudor period in England, Twelfth Night was a time of lavish courtly celebrations, including feasts, plays, and masques.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1601</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'</div><div class='timeline-text'>Shakespeare's play 'Twelfth Night, or What You Will' was written and performed, adding a layer of cultural significance to the holiday.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1700s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Twelfth Cake Tradition</div><div class='timeline-text'>The tradition of baking a special Twelfth Cake, containing a bean or a coin to crown the 'king' or 'queen' of the festivities, became popular in Britain.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Decline and Then Revival</div><div class='timeline-text'>Twelfth Night celebrations declined due to changing social customs, but saw a revival towards the end of the century largely due to Dickens' writings.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2003</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Twelfth Night is celebrated with a mix of religious ceremonies, public festivities, and private parties around the world, including a major production of Shakespeare's play in London.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a costume party</h3><p class='facts-text'>In the spirit of Shakespeare's play, encourage guests to come dressed as characters from Twelfth Night. This can result in a fun, lighthearted atmosphere with plenty of mistaken identities and laughs to be had.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Have a cake-baking contest</h3><p class='facts-text'>Have a cake-baking contest in honour of the Twelfth Night Cake tradition. Invite your friends and family to showcase their baking prowess and crown the winner 'King' or 'Queen' of the evening!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Watch a "Twelfth Night" performance</h3><p class='facts-text'>Find a local theater that's showing "Twelfth Night", or if this isn't possible, host a movie night at home. Watch any of the several adaptations of the play and be swept away by the romantic comedy's charming chaos.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create home-made decorations</h3><p class='facts-text'>Drawing inspiration from the twelve days of Christmas and the holiday season, create homemade decorations that can be used to adorn your house for the party. This can also be a fun activity to engage with kids.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Plan a feast with a medieval theme</h3><p class='facts-text'>To pay homage to its historic roots, plan a feast with a medieval theme for Twelfth Night. Research traditional fare of the era and recreate dishes like figgy pudding, roasted chestnuts, and mulled wine to add an authenticity to your celebration.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a Fun Tradition</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Twelfth Night is steeped in tradition, from the historical and Biblical roots to the influence of Tudor England. It's not just about wrapping up the Christmas season, but about embracing a little chaos and fun inspired by Shakespeare's play. From costume parties to cake-baking contests, there's so much merry revelry to indulge in!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Encourages Creativity and Festivity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The celebration of Twelfth Night gives us a chance to get creative - with costumes inspired by Shakespeare's characters, homemade decorations that celebrate the twelve days of Christmas, and even recreating traditional medieval fare for an authentic feast. These activities are not just entertaining but also create a festive and jovial atmosphere.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Brings People Together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>No tradition is as enjoyable without the company of friends and family. Twelfth Night is an excellent occasion for loved ones to come together, be it for a costume party, a cake-baking contest, or simply to watch a performance of "Twelfth Night". These shared experiences cultivate memories and bonds that last well beyond the festivities.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Twelfth Night is Also Known as The Feast of Epiphany</h3><p class='facts-content'>Twelfth Night marks the eve of Epiphany, a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God in human form as Jesus Christ. In many countries, the holiday signifies the 12th night after Christmas Day.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Shakespearean Play Was Probably First Performed on the Holiday</h3><p class='facts-content'>Although there's no firm evidence, it's widely believed that Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' was first performed for the court of Queen Elizabeth on January 6, 1601, Twelfth Night itself.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>It's Considered Unlucky to Leave Christmas Decorations Up After Twelfth Night</h3><p class='facts-content'>Superstition holds that failing to take down Christmas decorations after Twelfth Night will bring bad luck for the coming year as it brings negative spirits into the home.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>In Some Countries, Children Leave Their Shoes Out on Twelfth Night</h3><p class='facts-content'>In countries like Poland and Germany, kids often leave their shoes outside on Twelfth Night. If they've been good, the Three Wise Men leave gifts behind.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Twelfth Night is Often Marked by Wassailing</h3><p class='facts-content'>Wassailing is a traditional practice in parts of Britain where people toast to the health of trees in the hopes that they will provide a good harvest in the coming year.</p></div></div>
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