Twelfth Night in Sweden

What is Twelfth Night?

Twelfth Night celebrations take place after every 12 days of Christmas. It’s a Christian holiday that marks the coming of the Epiphany. Some traditions start counting 12 days from December 26, for which the Twelfth Night can fall on January 6. But most people start counting from Christmas day and celebrate Twelfth Night on January 5. 

Some traditions even celebrate Christmas all through these twelve days by feasting and spending time with their families.

Twelfth Night - All Quick Overview

• Time / Date: January 5
• Category: Religious
• Where It’s Marked: Twelfth Night is celebrated internationally by Christian communities.
• Why It’s Marked: The day marks the end of Christmas and the coming of Epiphany.

History of Twelfth Night

Previously, the festive season of Christmas would end on December 25, but in the 4th century, it changed. A council of priests called the “Council of Tours” established the twelve days of Christmas to Epiphany as a holy and festive occasion in 567 A.D.

Later, the Epiphany got established to commemorate the three wise men who visited baby Jesus in the manger. According to historians Christopher Hill and Willian J. Federer, the days came into recognition to resolve the Roman Empire’s administrative problem of coordinating its solar Julian calendar with the east’s lunar calendars.

In medieval times of Tudor England, traditionally, Candlemas was the end of the Christmas season. Later Epiphany’s eve, known as the Twelfth Night, came to signal the end of Christmastide. It also brought along a new season called Epiphanytide, which runs until Candlemas. Thus, Twelfth Night came into existence as we celebrate it now.

Even William Shakespeare wrote and performed a comedy play at Middle Temple Hall called “Twelfth Night or What You Will” on February 2, 1602. It was about Candlemas, but people found it more of a Twelfth Night entertainment.

How to Celebrate the Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a time of feasting and merriment. Many popular traditions surrounding it have been going on for ages. But mostly indulging in great food and heavy drinks was primarily popular among people.

In Elizabeth's time, a widespread tradition was of a bean and a pea hidden inside a Twelfth Night cake for the guests and the servants to find. The man who finds the bean would be able to become the king for the whole night, and the woman who finds the pea would become the queen. Others had to obey their commands until the night ended. But soon, this tradition was terminated as it created misrule and chaos.

Aside from the cake tradition, there were games like blind man’s bluff and practices like Wassailing, where one has to go to the orchard and fire guns and bang on pots to scare away the evil spirits and wake up the trees for the new harvest to arrive. It sounds a little silly, but that’s medieval time!

The night didn’t end there. There was also singing, dancing, and Christmas carols. People danced the night away until they couldn’t anymore. The King or Queen also held masked balls to welcome the guests to the festivities of Twelfth Night.

Food and drinks are the main attractions of Twelfth Night celebrations. Especially in the United Kingdom, a punch called Wassail is a popular drink consumed from Christmas time to Twelfth Night. People also bake different types of pastries like Tortell, King cake, and spice cakes on Twelfth Night to enjoy during the feast of the Epiphany celebrations.

In colonial America, the tradition was to leave a wreath hanging outside the door. After the twelve days, people enjoyed any edible parts of the wreath with dinner. There’s a similar tradition like this in parts of Kent. The tradition is to hang an edible ornament during the festive season, and on the Twelfth Night, it’s taken down and shared among the family.

Many write a particular mix of letters and numbers with chalk on their door. They believe it to be lucky. People would write “20+C=M+B+22” on their gates for this year. The letters C, M, and B represent the initials of the three wise men, and the first and last numbers mark the year, i.e., 2022. The “+” sign signifies a cross, and so it’s believed to mean “May Christ Bless the House.”

With traditions, there are always superstitions! It’s believed that you must take down your Christmas decorations before the end of Twelfth Night. Otherwise, it will bring you bad luck. Moreover, if you can’t take them down before night, you must leave them on until Candlemas.

Although many people don’t believe this superstition anymore, it has become a modern tradition to forget to take down Christmas decorations.

Countries that Observe the Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a worldwide celebration. Every year, Christians around the world observe and celebrate it with delicious food and a long night of partying.

Interesting Facts about Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a holy and joyful celebration. It will have some interesting facts that might excite you. Let’s read them together!

• Twelfth Night marks the start of the Carnival season.
• Not all countries focus on desserts for Twelfth Night. Many prefer something savory like tamales, borsch, szczodraki, etc.
• A recipe for Twelfth Night cake can be found on page 40 of an 1865 cookbook named “The Cook’s Own Book: An American Family CookBook.” It requires 18 eggs! That’s sure a big cake!
• Twelfth Night is known as “Trettondag” in Sweden, meaning the thirteenth day.
• Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night or What You Will” is the only play that doesn’t have the words “child” and “children.”
• Drury Lane Theatre has always provided Twelfth Night cake since 1795.

Twelfth Night Quotes

Can’t find anything to wish your family and friends a happy Twelfth Night? Well, we have got you covered! Here are some quotes to spread the joy of celebration.

“Although I don’t possess much power, I wish you seven days of Epiphany and angels throughout the year on the eve of Twelfth Night.”

“On this occasion of Twelfth Night, May the Lord bless us with the quietness of mind and teach us not to be too impatient with each other on this occasion of Twelfth Night.”

“On the eve of Twelfth Night, I wish that you have an Epiphany of yourself.”

FAQ

1. Why is it unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up until Twelfth Night?

Legend says that tree spirits take shelter in Christmas trees, ivy, and holy for the holiday season, and if you don’t take down the decorations, they won’t be able to get free and curse you with bad luck.

2. Why does Sweden call the Twelfth Night “Trettondag”?

Twelfth Night is mainly the eve of the Twelfth day, so Sweden's people consider it to be the thirteenth day.

3. Which places celebrate the Twelfth Night on January 17?

South-West England celebrates Twelfth Night on January 17, as the date determined by the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar.

4. What is William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night: What You Will” about?

The comedy play is about people forgetting and failing to take down their Christmas decorations and cards.