We are on the next countdown - the twelve days of Christmas - traditionally starting on Christmas Day and ending January 5th. January 6th is sometimes considered the twelfth day with the start December 26th. The twelve days is called Christmastide or Twelvetide.
Today is St. Stephen's Day. Another feast day, as in 'The feast of Stephen'. We know it by the Christmas song with King Wenceslas. Originally in Antiquity these days were taken up with saints' days and the first three days of the year were for prayer and penance. Lots of heads-down activities.
Fast forward to England in the Middle Ages and this period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking. Twelfth Night will be forever in our social consciousness because of William Shakespeare and his wonderful play.
And where do we land with Twelfth Night now? In New Orleans. This is Twelfth Night taken to a different level of festivity. January 6th is the day when King Cake Parties happen. It is the first night of Carnival, as in 'Farewell to the Flesh'. It goes from Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday (that's right, Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday in French, to reflect the practice of eating rich, fatty food before Lent when fasting begins).
"Originally, King Cakes were a simple ring of pastry dough (brioche to be exact) with a small amount of colored sugar as decoration. Inside the original King Cakes was a tiny porcelain or gold baby, representing Jesus. If a person received a piece of cake with the baby they were declared King for the day... The top of the cake is covered with sugar icing in traditional Mardi Gras colors: Green, purple and gold."
And reflecting on Christ in swaddling clothes, I just saw an ad for Pampers Swaddlers for active babies. Perfect for this time of year. Swaddling is a technique of wrapping infants in blankets or similar cloth so that the movement of the limbs is tightly restricted. Probably something parents appreciate Pampers creating for active babies the day after Christmas.
Here's a perfect Millie moment. I don't know what she saw on the feeder outside, but her second reaction looks like it is coming right at her. She is on the doggie bed on top of the desk.
No comments:
Post a Comment