The History of Twelfth Night

n Spain, legend has it that on January 6th, the Three Kings arrive on camelback bearing gifts for all. Three Kings' Day is cause for celebration: gifts are exchanged, special sweets are prepared, and families and friends sit down together for a glorious meal. 

At each home they visit, a little something is left for the traveling threesome - sherry and other delicious goodies for the Kings, and even some hay for the camels.

In Tudor England, the Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows Eve--which some now celebrate as Halloween. A King or Lord of Misrule would be appointed to run the Christmas festivities, and the Twelfth Night was the end of his period of rule.

The common theme was that the normal order of things was reversed. This Lord of Misrule tradition can be traced back to pre-Christian European festivals such as the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia.

Twelfth Night was originally celebrated in the Middle Ages at the end of the 12 days of Christmas. It marks the end of the Christmas season. Christians also observe the Feast of Epiphany on January 6.

In Western Christian churches, this holiday commemorates the coming of the wise men to the Christ child. Among Eastern Christians, Twelfth Night celebrates the baptism of Jesus.

In Italy and Spain, children still receive gifts on this day in remembrance of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus.

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the Blessing of the Waters takes place on January 6. In the ceremony, divers retrieve a cross thrown into a body of water by a priest.