Twelfth Day

English

WOTD – 6 January 2018

Etymology

The Adoration of the Kings (c. 1510) by the Master of the Aachen Altar, from the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, Germany

From the fact that Epiphany is the twelfth day after Christmas Day.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtwɛlfθ ˈdeɪ/

• Audio (AU)

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Proper noun

Twelfth Day (plural Twelfth Days)

1. (Christianity) Synonym of Epiphany (“an annual Christian feast on the twelfth day after Christmas Day (6 January) celebrating the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Magi”).
   • 1607, Hugh Latimer, “A Sermon Preached by Maister Hugh Latimer on Tvvelfth Day, at Grimstrope. Anno. 1553.”, in Fruitfull Sermons Preached by the Right Reuerend Father, and Constant Martyr of Iesus Christ, M. Hvgh Latimer, Newly Imprinted with Others not heeretofore set forth in Print, to the Edefying of All which will Dispose Themselues to the Reading of the Same. Seene and Allowed according to the Order Appointed in the Kings Maiestes Iniunctions, London: Printed [by William Jaggard] for the Company of Stationers, →OCLC, chapter title, page 290:

     A Sermon preached by Maiſter Hugh Latimer on Tvvelfth day, at Grimſtrope. Anno. 1553.

   • 1799, Edward Barry, The Friendly Call of Truth and Reason to a New Species of Dissenters, Reading, Berkshire: Printed for the author, and sold by Elmsley & Bremner, in the Strand, London; Smart & Cowslade, Reading, & all other booksellers, →OCLC, footnote, pages 12–13:

     A Preſbyter of the Church of England has long officiated in a Meeting Houſe of this ſeceding deſcription, in London; but that is not all, he ordains too: […] But I would ſay both to the ordainer and the ordained, by what authority doſt thou theſe things, and who gave thee this authorty? […] [A]s to any legality to be derived from ſuch pretended orders, without the permiſſion I have alluded to, thoſe who draw Kings and Queens over a twelfth-day cake, have as good claims to the Crown of England!

   • 1828, William Pulleyn, “Section X. Eras, Months, Weeks, Days, &c.”, in The Etymological Compendium, or Portfolio of Origins and Inventions; [...], London: Printed for Thomas Tegg, 73, Cheapside; Glasgow: R. Griffin and Co.; Dublin: J. Cumming, →OCLC, page 185:

     The Epiphany is called Twelfth Day, because it falls on the twelfth day after Christmas Day. Epiphany signifies Manifestation, and is applied to this day because it is the day whereon Christ was manifested to the Gentiles.

   • 1847, Robert Sears, “France”, in Scenes and Sketches in Continental Europe: Embracing Descriptions of France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sicily, Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland, together with Interesting Notices of Their Principal Cities and Towns. Carefully Prepared from the Best and Latest Sources, New York, N.Y.: Published by Robert Sears, 128 Nassau Street; J. S. Redfield, Clinton Hall, →OCLC, page 38:

     It is indeed remarkable that the twelfth day nearly coincides in the time of the year with the Saturnalia; and Fosbrooke even finds that the king of the Saturnalia was elected, like the king of the twelfth night, by a bean. […] As all the various customs of different countries on this day concur in the common object of commemorating the visit of the three wise men, or kings, to the birthplace of Christ, a king is in some way or other always a conspicuous personage in the entertainments which take place. In France, previously to the revolution, this mode of celebrating twelfth day prevailed as well at court as among the people in general. At the former, one of the nobles was chosen king, and at the entertainment which followed, the twelfth-day monarch was attended by the king and courtiers.

   • 1855, Duchess D'Abrantes (Madame Junot), chapter LXXVII, in Memoirs of Napoleon, His Court and Family. [...] In Two Volumes, volume I, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, 346 & 348 Broadway, →OCLC, page 533:

     [W]e fell into a discussion upon the merits of those family meetings which this season brought with it; and it was agreed that the celebration of Christmas, of New Year's and Twelfth-days, the birthday and saint's day of the head of the family, and other festivals, were favourable to the maintenance of domestic harmony, and were therefore worthy of being preserved.

   • 2008, Susan Wiggs, “Epiphany”, in Snowfall at Willow Lake (The Lakeshore Chronicles; 4), Don Mills, Ont.: Mira Books, →ISBN:

     […] Epiphany is a Christian feast, also known as Twelfth Day, as it is the twelfth day after Christmas. Traditionally, this coincides with the visit of the Magi. The day is marked by feasting and celebration.

Synonyms

• Twelfthtide, Twelvetide (one sense)

Related terms

• Twelfth cake
• Twelfth Night