Epiphany

I am a bit sad now. I am blipping the Christmas tree and a few of its decorations, just before Helena starts to remove these personally meaningful symbols, whilst I remove the tree itself and its glorious, fresh and healthy looking branches. As you may notice its needles are nearly all still on the tree, not on the floor. This wasn't specially bought for that specific talent. No, this tree has been growing in our garden for more than eight years, planted sometime before we moved here. I tried to show the whole tree and its transformation, but we felt this picture was more evocative.

I am sad, as I had to cut the tree down to bring it into the house, knowing that my original plan to replant it was impossible. We have enjoyed its eight foot height, the lovely coloured needles and a full spread of branches. Helena decorated it and now she is starting to return the odd assembly of penguins, glass trees, baubles, Bahraini trinkets and her hand-made new-ish moon, which is particularly fitting for the current lunar cycle. I will re-cycle the tree, and burn a branch on our fire tonight. Where the penguin fits in I am not sure.

Helena explained that she wanted to follow the traditions of Epiphany according to what she experienced in her childhood in Ireland and Scotland. Who am I to argue, when my family mostly had no interest in 'god-bothering'.

'The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word 'epiphaneia', which means an appearance or a manifestation. In the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated on 6th January, which is also referred to as Epiphany or Three Kings Day, when it is believed that the three wise men found Jesus in the stable in Bethlehem.

Twelfth Night marks Epiphany in the church's calendar, a time when the existing social order is turned upside down. This can be found in the Roman festival of Saturnalia and the Babylonian festival of Sacaea, where servants became masters and the masters had to obey the slaves.

In the fifth century, the churches of France and England carried on this tradition, appointing Bishops and Archbishops of Food to revel and cause mischief. This continued in England until the Middle Ages, where a beggar or student would be crowned 'Lord of Misrule' and the poor would go to the homes of the rich and demand the very best food and drink. Failure to complicit this request would probably result in the household being terrorised with mischief.

In the Netherlands, a version of this tradition continues to this day. On 6th January which is known as Driekoningendag or Three Kings Day, an Epiphany cake is baked and whoever finds the bean inside it is king for the day and wears a gold paper crown.'
(from: A Gift for Christmas, published by Michael O'Mara Books Limited 2001)


I must admit that I am now wondering if Helena's delicious christmas cake will magically offer me a bean at tea-time today.