Happy Twelfth Day of Christmas sweet friends! Will you be celebrating this time-honored tradition of Epiphany also known as Three Kings Day? Here at Storybook Cottage, we have prepared a Victorian 12th Night Celebration.
Victorian 12th Night Celebration
For many people, the 12th day of Christmas isn’t just 12 drummers drumming. This day marks the end of the Christmas season. It is celebrated with many different forms of merrymaking and is also known as Epiphany and Three Kings Day.
In many Latin American countries, including Panama where Mr. Decor was born, El Día De Los Reyes, marks the visit to the baby Jesus by the Three Kings. These Magi, or Wise Men, traveled a great distance on camels.
Festivities can include the eating of King’s Day Bread (Rosca de Reyes), leaving grass out for the camels, and a big family dinner.
In the early medieval age, food and drink were often at the center of 12th Night celebrations. Lambswool or Wassail punch (hot cider with spices) was consumed followed by door to door singing known as Wassailing.
In colonial America, decorations were left up through the 12 Days of Christmas. Fruits, such as apples and oranges, and nuts were often presented as gifts they were a luxury.
Merry-Making in Farmer Shakeshaft’s Barn, 1858, by English artist and illustrator Hablot Knight Brown, who used the pen name “Phiz”.
Feasting and singing continued through the Victorian era. Crackers containing paper crowns (to represent the Kings) were often found on the dinner table. Gatherings could also include readings of poetry, short stories, and/or the playing of charades and other parlor games. Lavish 12th Night celebrations were observed with elaborate costume parties and balls.
Dance in the Château St. Louis, Quebec, 1801, George Heriot
Bringing Happy Back
Today many in the general population are unfamiliar with the concept of the 12th Night Celebration. It fell out of favor in the 1930s during the depression. By the time America recovered from the war in the 1940s the custom had passed by an entire generation. It is an opportunity of joy missed.
A few years ago we made the decision to celebrate the full 12 Days of Christmas in our home. It is my favorite time of the year. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over. It is a special time of togetherness for our family which includes delicious food, playing games, watching movies, and sometimes staying in our pajamas all day. We end the season with a special celebratory meal on January 6th.
Twelfth Night, 1794, Issac Cruickshank
Table Decor
Our 12th Night table was set in soft shades of white, cream, and gold.
The centerpiece features seasonal greenery, pinecones, berries, sprigs of glitter stars, and a white dove.
Pretty Party Favors
Vintage baskets hold chocolate coins as a nod to one of the king’s gifts. The baskets are topped with a white dove (to represent peace) and stars (which the Wise Men followed) as well as scraps of ribbon.
Over on the sideboard, the design elements are repeated.
Recipe Ideas
We’ll be enjoying roasted meat and vegetables, winter greens, and other delicious fare.
The traditional 12th Night Cake/King Cake/Galette des Rois has never looked lovelier. You can find the recipe HERE.
For additional recipe ideas please visit my Dickens Victorian Christmas Pinterest Page.
Victorian Era Clothing
The Mr. and I donned our gay apparel for this event.
As this is already a lengthy post, the clothing will be discussed in this week’s Fashion Friday post.
We made a video giving a tour of our 12th-night decor and discussed the history of the holiday. The full-length video can be seen HERE.
There are numerous bloopers included in the above video but this one is our favorite.
Happy Three Kings Day!Laura
Hi Laura,
What a beautiful, beautiful celebration—from the table to the food to the clothing. A wonderful (and informative) post.
Happy 12th day- xo Diana
You look absolutely lovely. And your dress is perfection. Your post today was a wonderful reminder to take delight in lovely things. Your tables setting was exquisite. I look forward to your posts. I needed this post to take my mind off al the sadness here in Michigan and all of the covid cases in our immediate family. I have not been able to see my children for many months. There are several positive covid cases in my husband’s family. We just stay home by ourselves in lockdown for months. No celebrations, no holidays, no entertaining. I used to do five to six tablescapes using all my antique china, silver and crystal for charity events every year for twenty years. Now, no more. My beautiful things are all packed away in storage. So, thank you for bringing a bit of joy into my day.
Your gown is beautiful and you make a very handsome couple in your finery. I watched the clip of the ‘giggles’. It made me laugh watching your hubby with the straight face and your son coaxing you from behind the camera. 😀
Your table setting is so elegant and your feast sounds lovely. Enjoy your celebration. 🙂
A radio station announcer from years ago use to play the last of the Christmas carols and songs on his morning program. I loved that morning, knowing it would be the last of the Christmas music until mid December. Many radio stations didn’t start playing until just before Christmasa back then. They didn’t have that big a selection so they had to space them out or people would get tired of them very fast and we didn’t have a record player or cassettes back then.
Happy Epiphany (or Little Christmas as it was called around here) !
Oh my word, you always amaze me. Love your tablescape and centerpiece and the buffet is stunning too. You and hubby look so fabulous, your outfits are amazing. Such a fun post.
This was a fabulous post, Laura. I’m so glad to be reminded about the 12th Night celebrations and will make an effort next year to extend the Season! I always lament that the day after Christmas, you hear no Christmas music. Christmas is not just one day but a Season and should always extend through New Years and beyond (my humble opinion).
Your table and sideboard are gorgeous! Your dress is so beautiful and the necklace looks perfect with it. I am still laughing at your “giggles” !!!
Eric is trying so hard to keep it together – love his surprise ending!
I think next year Christmas will look so much different than this year — at least I am hoping and praying it will be so!
~ carol
You look so beautiful, Laura. And so is everything else — your wonderful table, that dazzling golden cake, the darling party favors. I love the tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas. And I love the costumes as part of it. What a splendid way to cap the holiday season!
So beautifully celebrated Laura! Here I am this afternoon, still in my pajamas and taking a tea break from taking all the ornaments off the tree. I didn’t start Christmas decorating until mid-December, so I like to savor all the beautiful things as long as I can. Looking forward to your post on Friday about your gown! I’m not allowing myself to do any sewing till all the decorations are put away!
Wow! What a beautiful celebration and inspiration for the celebration. We’ve never traditionally celebrated 12th night.
Wow! What a beautiful celebration and inspiration for the celebration. We’ve never traditionally celebrated 12th night. Beautiful clothing!!