Yesterday was Twelfth Night.
Yes, that night named for the play by Shakespeare. Or perhaps it’s the other
way around. Coincidentally, we took our Christmas tree down yesterday. We had
been travelling over part of the holiday season and when we returned we knew it
was time to put the tree away. Still, it seemed we had little time to
appreciate our tree, even if it was only a little, old person’s tree: pre-lit
and in two pieces, an artificial spruce hardly recognizable as a tree.
I seem to recall Twelfth
Night has something to do with being the night before Epiphany, the Christian
holiday. In my childhood I also recall learning Epiphany was the date you were
supposed to take your Christmas tree down. So actually, we were a day early in
taking our tree down. But we were late by today’s standards in putting our tree
and other decorations up.
No one seems to abide by the
“Epiphany Christmas tree rule” these days.
To facilitate seasonal sales,
Christmas trees and holiday decorations now go up in stores and malls around
Labor Day. We, the general public, have become so use to seeing Christmas
decorations before the actual Christmas season we put up our own trees and
decorations by the day after Thanksgiving. So understandably we are sick of
seeing Christmas paraphernalia long before Epiphany arrives.
And after that, it’s a speedy
downhill as far as holidays are concerned. We’re facing January with no
holidays worth decorating for. That is, unless you count Stephen Foster Memorial Day, (January 13),
Orthodox New Year (January 14), Inauguration Day, (January 20), and Martin Luther King Day which also is Idaho Idaho
Come February there’s Groundhog
Day, President’s Day and Valentines Day. Sort of makes me want another hit of my
Mr. Happy light.
Happy Epiphany and happy holidays for any and all you can find to celebrate. I wonder what decorations work for Groundhog Day?
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