Jan 6th Epiphany

[DixieRifles]

Interesting read. I don't celebrate this tradition and was not clear on some details of it. I like that it recognizes that the Wise Men were not present at the Manger.
I like to post some True/False statement about the Biblical background for the Christian celebration. So I posted that they were not there and quote Luke where it says they appeared at the "house". One friend couldn't accept this fact and replied that their houses had mangers.

One of my T/F statements is: Joseph took Mary, who was expecting, to Bethlehem riding on a donkey to be counted in the census.

It is False because the scripture doesn't mention a 9-month pregnant lady riding on a donkey.

 

[donna]

It Jan 6th. Thought bump this thread. Our tree still up and our Nativity set.

 

[RebelWeber]

Today. Jan. 6th, in the Christian calendar is Epiphany. This is the day celebrated as when Three Kings or Wise Men brought gifts to the Baby Jesus.

The night before Epiphany is called Twelfth Night. There has been much celebration of that night throughout history.

Counting Christmas as the first night, the twelfth night falls on Jan. 5, known as the vigil of Epiphany. Epiphany according to the Christian Church, celebrates three crucial events in Christian history: the visit of the three wise men, the baptism of Jesus and the miracle at Cana. It is one of the main celebrations in England, with balls and gift giving.

Twelfth Night revels continued unabated when the colonists brought these time-honored holidays to this country in old Virginia. Twelfth Night was called Old Christmas and was the occasion of the grandest balls and parties of the year.

There were many foods served at this occasion. One was Twelfth Night Cake.

Recipe:

1 cup raisins
1 cup currants
1 cup chopped candied pineapple
1/2 cup chopped candied red cherries
3/4 cup bourbon
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup ground almonds
1 died pinto bean
1 dried black-eyed pea

Combine first 5 ingredients; stir well. Cover mixture; let stand overnight.

Cream butter in a large mixing bowl; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift flour and spices together; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in almond-fruit mixture.

Spoon batter into a greased and waxed paper lined 9 inch springform pan. Press bean and pea just below surface of batter.

Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake completely in pan.

Note: Why the bean and pea? The cake for Epiphany contained a bean and a pea. When the slices were served, the man who found the bean in his portion was crowned King and the lady who found the pea was crowned queen.

From:"The Southern Heritage Celebrations Cookbook", 1983.

We attended a celebration of 12th night at the Hancock House in Salem county New Jersey ... The large sycamore tree you see on the left is a witness tree been there for over 300 years

 

[FZ11]

We attended a celebration of 12th night at the Hancock House in Salem county New Jersey ... The large sycamore tree you see on the left is a witness tree been there for over 300 yearsView attachment 572079

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Interesting brick treatment 4th pic down.

 

[RebelWeber]

The initials of William and Sarah Hancock and the date that the house was built (1734) can be seen in the brickwork of the Hancock House.This style is called Flemish Bond

 

[Allyn]

In Ireland, "Little Christmas" (Nollaig na mBan) is celebrated on January 6th, marking the end of the Christmas season and the Feast of the Epiphany, traditionally a day for women to rest and celebrate as men handled household chores. My dad had been introduced to the celebration by his immigrant Irish grandmother, and often mentioned it during the holiday season,