Twelfth Night - Gathering a Warm Welcome

[Dragonese]

The taking down of lights doesn't mean an end to warmth especially in tough times. Don't be lonely, share your twelfth night plans and festivities here, let's keep each other company.

I am about to wrap up and head out for a walk with dc to build up an appetite for our feast later. Planning to finish tidying away the decorations whilst it is all cooking.

Me too. I have taken all the froth down so there is just the tree to pack away while the Shepherds Pie is in the oven.

The outside lights are drying in the garage - why oh why didn't I take the bloody things down at the weekend when it was dry!!!!
Inside, I've put everything away bar my little Nativity scene. I'll sort that out just before I go to bed - it's the Eve of Epiphany - the Magi might have arrived a bit earlier than usual....
I've got my last 2 mince pies for later.

My poinsettia is flourishing & the flowers I got on Christmas Eve are still going strong. Lovely to see.

I'm going to potter out to the garden quietly after dark and discreetly wassail my new apple trees. I'm in Ireland and it's not a thing here, but I rather fancy it.

I am SO done with brown food, so went to our local Korean supermarket for tteokbokk.

A feast of tteokbokki, rice, kimchi and banchan awaits!

Oooh, I thought Epiphany was tomorrow???

We are getting ready to hang up our stockings for tomorrow's gifts. Normally we would also take the lights and tree down tomorrow but I have been persuaded to leave them up a bit longer.

Tree comes down on the 6th for us. Really don't want to take it down this year, especially now with the lockdown, it's keeping my spirits up.
I'm always literally the last person on our street to take them down though

@Hollybutnoivy

Oh! Can you have Epiphany gifts? (would be logical I guess?)

@52andblue

We are in Italy so the Befana (a witch) brings sweets (to good children) and coal (to naughty children) tonight! DD10 is ridiculously excited despite not believing in it anymore - she said she is going to make an exception for tonight.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Befana

@52andblue

Oooh, I thought Epiphany was tomorrow???

The day is, but the night comes first (as Christmas Eve is the first night of Christmas, so tonight is Twelfth Night).

@sandandso Doh! of course! silly me - thank you xx

@Hollybutnoivy Thats a lovely tradition, thank you for telling me about it.

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername I like the idea of a quiet wassail. We usually have a party on 12th night and folks gather to throw cider soaked bread at my apple tree but not this year 🙁
I’m doing dry January so can’t even wassail it properly. Not sure if bread soaked in tea will work.

I'm so heartened by this thread, by the way. No special plans here other than moving the Three Kings to the Nativity. Will be keeping tree and decs up till Feb though.

We had a glorious walk, it was cold but the ice has melted so less treacherous and the clouds were amazing - full of pinks and blues over snow covered hills.

My dc loves the italian sweetie witch Holly, what a lovely tradition!

Am having a disarrono and coke whilst the roasting veg fills the house with yum

[quote Felty]@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername I like the idea of a quiet wassail. We usually have a party on 12th night and folks gather to throw cider soaked bread at my apple tree but not this year 🙁
I’m doing dry January so can’t even wassail it properly. Not sure if bread soaked in tea will work.[/quote]
It's actually mainly because DD (who is 10) is horrified at the thought that the neighbours might hear it I don't have any suitable drink, so I'm going with the theory that since they're only babies, milk and a whispered lullaby will work I'll plan it better next year.

oooh I have found a precovid national theatre recording of Shakespeare's play on sky arts, it all looks a bit modern but I will watch it and pretend I am there. Been missing theatre very much.

"If music be the food of love..."

It's actually mainly because DD (who is 10) is horrified at the thought that the neighbours might hear it grin I don't have any suitable drink, so I'm going with the theory that since they're only babies, milk and a whispered lullaby will work blush I'll plan it better next year.

How much would you have to bribe DD to do the lullabying?

It’s DD’s birthday tomorrow, so we’re having birthday cake and pink Prosecco for breakfast (the cake is Asda’s finest with white fondant that is so sweet it hurts your teeth). Then a roast dinner.

Happy Birthday to your DD, I am sure there is a rule about Christmassy birthdays requiring extra attention - prosecco and cake sounds like an excellent start

I had a Scottish midwife who told me that “twelfth night,was the luckiest day to be born” . When I arrived at the hospital at 10pm on the 5th they told me that the baby would be born before midnight.

I must have been the only pregnant women ever to say that I did not want her to arrive till the next day.

That was 48 years ago and I got my wish.

We've had an awful Christmas this year thanks to everyone having covid so I'm pushing the boat out for twelfth night (we do it on the 6th but the explanation above makes more sense)
Kids don't know yet but we'll be doing lots of little things and also gifts. I can't wait to see their faces

Sorry you had such a rotten time Nobby and I hope you all are well now and have a lovely day tomorrow

January 17th (Old Twelfth Night) is the time for Orchard Wassail if keeping up the old customs.