Topsy Turvy Day

Twelfth Night -- Topsy Turvy Day!

The last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Filiadies) has long been a day of deliberate unbalance: the overturning of social norms so the high took the position of the low and the low postured as the mighty -- usually to great hilarity. For Madrians and modern Filianis, this is the day to take down our Nativity decorations: if any decorations are to remain, all images of the star must at least be removed.

'Duodecima' (from Latin 'duodecimus' meaning 'twelve) is the last night of the Nativity season, the final day of the Twelve Days, and marks the eve of Princess Day (Epiphany). In traditional observance of the winter holiday season, Christmas is the beginning of the twelve day lead up to a second Christmas, Epiphany. Epiphany, from the Greek for 'manifestation' is a celebration of the showing forth of the Divine Child to the world. In Christian tradition, Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi and Jesus' later baptism; in Filianic tradition, Epiphany marks the first time the children of the earth see the Daughter (as she was still within the cave on Nativity itself).

Where Epiphany is observed, it is often seen as a 'little Christmas' or 'second Christmas' where there is gift-giving and joyous celebration, as much as or more than on Christmas itself. (Epiphany is on Jan 5 or 6 depending who you ask; where Duodecima and Epiphany occur either on the same day or consecutively. The ECE [5th ed, pg 234] states Duodecima is marked on "[t]he twelfth day counting inclusively from Nativity" which would have Duodecima land on Jan 5. As Epiphany is generally celebrated in Christian calendars on Jan 6, I observe Duodecima and Epiphany as separate festivals.)

After the long season of festivity beginning with Advent (seems so long ago!) we now prepare to step out of the winter holidays. Winter continues for some time to come, but after Epiphany we begin to look ahead toward the spring and our next lengthy holiday season. If you are taking down decorations today, I wish you well and may your strings of lights and garlands remain untangled! It is always difficult to fit things back in the boxes they supposedly came out of, haha. Happy Duodecima!