Quick Facts
Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, marks
the visit of the three wise men, or Magi, to Jesus and Jesus' baptism,
which was performed by John the Baptist. This event is observed in the
United Kingdom on January 6 each year.
Name
Epiphany
Alternative name
Three Kings' Day
Epiphany 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
What do people do?
Some Christians attend special church services on January 6. Figures
representing the three wise men, or the Magi, are placed in some crib
scenes on Epiphany. This is especially true of crib scenes in or close
to churches or church schools.
People in the UK remove their Christmas decorations from their homes,
schools and workplaces on or before Twelfth Night. Many people believe
that it is bad luck to display Christmas decorations after January 6.
Decorations in town centers and shopping malls may stay on display for
longer, as it can take many days or weeks to remove them all. The lights
in these decorations are not generally turned on after January 6.
Some people hold Twelfth Night parties. They may serve a hot spicy
punch called wassail or a Twelfth Night cake. A Twelfth Night cake
usually contains one whole dried pea and one whole dried bean. The
people who get the pea and the bean in their portion of cake are crowned
king and queen for the evening.
Public life
Epiphany is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland on or around January 25. It commemorates the life of the bard
(poet) Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. The day also
celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. Burns' best known
work is "Auld Lang Syne".
What do people do?
Many people and organizations hold a Burns' supper on or around
Burns' Night. These may be informal or formal, only for men, only for
women, or for both genders. Formal events include toasts and readings of
pieces written by Robert Burns. Ceremonies during a Burns' Night supper
vary according to the group organizing the event and the location.
The evening centers on the entrance of the haggis (a type of
sausage prepared in a sheep's stomach) on a large platter to the sound
of a piper playing bagpipes. When the haggis is on the table, the host
reads the "Address to a Haggis". This is an ode that Robert Burns wrote
to the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, the haggis is
ceremonially sliced into two pieces and the meal begins.
Public life
Burns' Night is an observance but it is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
Background
Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, on January 25, 1759. He died in Dumfries, Scotland, on July 21, 1796. He was a bard
(poet) and wrote many poems, lyrics and other pieces that addressed
political and civil issues. Perhaps his best known work is "Auld Lang
Syne", which is sung at New Year's Eve
celebrations in Scotland, parts of the United Kingdom, and other places
around the world. Burns is one of Scotland's important cultural icons
and is well known among Scottish expats or descendants around the world.
He is also known as: "Rabbie Burns"; the "Bard of Ayrshire";
"Scotland's favourite son"; and in Scotland "The Bard".
Robert Burns' acquaintances held the first Burns' supper on July 21,
the anniversary of his death, in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the late 1700s.
The date was later changed to January 25, which marks his birthday.
Burns' suppers are now held by people and organizations with Scottish
origins worldwide, particularly in Australia, Canada, England, and the
United States.
Symbols
The Scottish flag is often displayed at Burns' Night celebrations. It
is known as the Saltire and consists of a rectangular blue background
with thick white bars on the diagonals. The diagonals form a cross that
represents Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.
At Burns' Night events, many men wear kilts and women may wear
shawls, skirts or dresses made from their family tartan. A tartan was
originally a woolen cloth with a distinctive pattern made by using
colors of weft and warp when weaving. Particular patterns and
combinations of colors were associated with different areas, clans and
families. Tartan patterns are now printed on various materials.
Many types of food are associated with Burns' Night. These include: cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leek soup); haggis; neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes); cranachan (whipped cream mixed with raspberries and served with sweet oat wafers); and bannocks (a kind of bread cooked on a griddle). Whisky is the traditional drink.
The New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations in Scotland are known
as Hogmanay and may last into January 2, an annual bank holiday. This
holiday is marked with parties, specially prepared foods and the custom
of first footing.
What do people do?
Hogmanay celebrations generally begin in the afternoon or evening of New Year's Eve and continue into early hours of the New Year's Day morning. Some family gatherings or private celebrations organized by groups of friends may continue through to January 2.
In some areas, the custom of first footing continues on January 2.
First footing refers to when someone is the first person to enter a
house on January 1. For many people in Scotland, January 2 is a day to
recover from the Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations or to spend some
quiet time with friends or family members before returning to work on
January 3.
Public life
January 2 is not a bank or public holiday in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. However, January 1 and 2 are bank holidays in
Scotland. Banks and post offices are closed. There may be limited public
transport services or none at all. Some stores and businesses may be
closed.
If either or both of January 1 and 2 fall on a Saturday or Sunday,
the bank holidays are moved to the next week days. For instance, if
January 1 falls on a Saturday and January 2 on a Sunday, the bank
holidays are moved to January 3 and 4.
What do people do?
On New Year's Eve (December 31), just before midnight, many people
turn on a television to show pictures of one of the four clocks on the
Clock Tower on the Palace of Westminster, or Houses of Parliament, in
London counting down the last minutes of the old year. At midnight, as
the New Year begins, the chimes of Big Ben, the bell inside the Clock
Tower, are broadcast to mark the start of the New Year. Champagne or
other sparkling wines are often served at this point.
Many people hold parties at home or go out to pubs or night clubs.
These parties often continue into the early hours of the morning. Hence,
for many people, New Year's Day is time for recovering from the
excesses of the night before. For others, it is the last day of the
Christmas holiday before they return to work. Some take the opportunity
to carry out home improvements or to go for a walk in the country. In
many places around the United Kingdom's coast, groups of people dress up
in fancy costumes and run into the cold sea.
Many people make New Year's resolutions. These are promises to
themselves that they will lead a better life in some way in the coming
year. Common New Year's resolutions include stopping smoking, losing
weight, eating more healthily, getting more exercise or spending less
money. Some types of resolution that would lead to a healthier lifestyle
are supported by government advertising campaigns.
In some areas, there are a number of customs associated with New
Year's Day. In Scotland many people sing the song 'Auld Lang Syne' at
midnight as New Year's Day begins. In Scotland and northern England, it
is customary to go first footing. This is the first person to enter a
house on January 1. There are many traditions and superstitions
associated with first footing. A male first-footer brings good luck, but
a female bad luck. In different areas there are different traditions
about whether the first footer should have fair or dark hair, whether
the person should bring coal, salt or other things and what food or
drink that person should be served after arrival.
What do people do?
Many people spend most of December 31 quietly. They may spend time
outdoors, reading the reviews of the last year in newspapers or resting
in preparation for the New Year's Eve parties that begin in the late
afternoon or evening. People who host parties may spend a large part of
the day preparing food and arranging drinks. In the evening, New Year's
Eve parties usually go on for many hours, well beyond midnight. Some,
particularly young people, may choose to spend the evening in pubs,
clubs or discos. Although there are many who celebrate the event
responsibly with moderate amounts of alcohol, some celebrate the event
with large amounts of alcohol, which can lead to fights and other acts
of foolishness in the early hours of the morning.
Just before midnight, people turn on a radio or television to see the
countdown of the last few minutes of the old year and the display of
fireworks just after midnight. At this point, people often hug and kiss
each other, even strangers, and many start singing Auld Lang Syne, a
poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns. In Scotland, the Hogmanay
celebrations may last for one or two more days, as both January 1 and 2
are bank holidays. In the rest of the United Kingdom, only January 1 is a
bank holiday.
In Scotland and some parts of northern England, people may spend the
last few hours of December 31 preparing to be or receive first-footers.
The first person to cross the threshold of a house after the start of
the new year is a first-footer. First-footers are usually men and in
different areas have different physical characteristics, such as blond
or dark hair, bring different kinds of luck to the household in the
coming year. They bring gifts, such as whiskey, shortbread, coal and
fruit cake, which are then shared among all of the guests.
Symbols
One of the most widely known symbols of New Year's Eve is the image
of the Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster, in London, counting
down the last minutes of the old year. The first chimes of Big Ben, the
bell housed in the Clock Tower, in the new year are broadcast live on
radio and television. This is followed by a spectacular fireworks
performance, often centered on the London Eye, which is claimed to be
the largest Ferris wheel in Europe.
No British Christmas is complete without a Christmas Pudding. Everyone needs a great recipe, and this is my favourite Recipe. have been making for many, many years.
Despite reports that the traditional Christmas pudding has fallen out of
favour for lighter desserts, it is as popular as ever. Christmas
pudding is best made well in advance to allow it to mature which
traditionally is made on 'Stir it up Sunday' the Sunday before Advent around the end of November... read more.
Don't be put off by the number of ingredients in this recipe, although
it may seem daunting, simply assemble all your ingredients in advance,
and the rest is easy. All that is left then, is to make a wish.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Marinating Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 20 hours, 45 minutes
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients:
- Serves 8 - 10
- 1lb /450g dried mixed fruit (use golden raisins/sultanas* , raisins, currants)
- 1 oz /25 g mixed candied peel, finely chopped
- 1 small cooking apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped
- Grated zest and juice
- ½ large orange and
- ½ lemon
- 4 tbsp brandy, plus a little extra for soaking at the end
- 2 oz /55 g self-raising flour, sifted
- 1 level tsp ground mixed spice
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 oz /110 g shredded suet, beef or vegetarian
- 4oz /110g soft, dark brown sugar
- 4 oz /110 g white fresh bread crumbs
- 1 oz /25 g whole shelled almonds, roughly chopped
- 2 large, fresh eggs
Preparation:
- Lightly butter a 2½ pint/1.4 litre pudding basin/17cm
- Place the dried fruits, candied peel, apple, orange and lemon juice
into a large mixing bowl. Add the brandy and stir well. Cover the bowl
with a clean tea towel and leave to marinate for a couple of hours,
preferably overnight.
- Stir together the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon in a very large mixing bowl. Add the suet,
sugar, lemon and orange zest, bread crumbs, nuts and stir again until
all the ingredients are well mixed. Finally add the marinaded dried
fruits and stir again.
- Beat the eggs lightly in a small bowl then stir quickly into the
dry ingredients. The mixture should have a fairly soft consistency.
- Now is the time to gather the family for Christmas Pudding tradition of taking turns in stirring, making a wish and adding a few coins.
- Spoon the mixture in to the greased pudding basin, gently pressing
the mixture down with the back of a spoon. Cover with a double layer of
greaseproof paper or baking parchment, then a layer of aluminum foil and
tie securely with string.
- Place the pudding in a steamer set over a saucepan of simmering
water and steam the pudding for 7 hours. Make sure you check the water
level frequently so it never boils dry. The pudding should be a deep
brown color when cooked. The pudding is not a light cake but instead is a
dark, sticky and dense sponge.
- Remove the pudding from the steamer, cool completely. Remove the
paper, prick the pudding with a skewer and pour in a little extra
brandy. Cover with fresh greaseproof paper and retie with string. Store
in a cool dry place until Christmas day. Note: The
pudding cannot be eaten immediately, it really does need to be stored
and rested then reheated on Christmas Day. Eating the pudding
immediately after cooking will cause it to collapse and the flavours
will not have had time to mature.
- On Christmas day reheat the pudding by steaming again for about an hour. Serve with anyone of these lovely accompaniments. Brandy or Rum Sauce, Brandy Butter or Custard.
Left over Christmas pudding can be reheated by wrapping tightly in aluminum foil and heating through in a hot oven.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "
White Christmas : Lyrics
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
Father Christmas is the traditional British name for a figure
associated with Christmas. The term is also used in many
English-speaking countries outside the United States. A similar figure
with the same name (in other languages) exists in several other
countries, including Wales (Sion Corn), Canada and France (Père Noël), Spain (Papá Noel, Padre Noel), Azerbaijan (Şaxta Baba), almost all Hispanic South America (Papá Noel), Brazil (Papai Noel), Portugal (Pai Natal), Italy (Babbo Natale), Ireland (Daidí na Nollag), Armenia (Dzmer Papik), India (Christmas Father), Andorra (Pare Noel), Romania (Moş Crăciun) Turkey (Noel Baba), Hungary (Télapó) and Bulgaria (Dyado Koleda, Grandfather Christmas ).
Although he has a quite different origin, in the English-speaking
world Father Christmas is now associated with the development in the
United States of Santa Claus, and most people consider them to be different names for the same figure. In English Canada and French Canada, Santa Claus and Père Noël are the same character.
Father Christmas often appears as a large man, often around seventy
years old. He is dressed in a red suit trimmed with white fur, often
girdled with a wide black belt, a matching hat, often long and floppy in
nature, and dark boots. Often he carries a large brown sack filled with
toys on his back (rarely, images of him have a beard but with no
moustache[citation needed]).
Urban myth has it that the red suit only appeared after the Coca Cola
company started an advertising campaign depicting a red suited Father
Christmas in the 1930s. However, the red suit was used long before, including by American illustrator Thomas Nast.
Father Christmas comes down the chimney to put presents under the Christmas tree or in children's rooms, in their stockings. Some families leave a glass of sherry or mulled wine, mince pies, biscuits, or chocolate and a carrot for his reindeer
near the stocking(s) as a present for him. In modern homes without
chimneys he uses alternative means to enter the home, such as a magical
key that unlocks all doors. In some homes children write Christmas lists
(of wished-for presents) and send them up the chimney or post them. He
is often said to live at the North Pole.
Absolutely the best and exceptional Christmas greetings and all good wishes for your health and happiness in the coming year!
