Beans and Babies

While finally hanging up my new January calendar this morning, I noticed that tomorrow is Epiphany-(also known as Twelfth night).

I had to look that one up.

e·piph·a·ny

 [ih-pif-uh-nee]

noun, plural -nies. 1. ( initial capital letter ) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day

However, when Daniel Webster is somewhat vague with his definition, I rely on Wikipedia for all my pertinent information.  

Wikipedia clarifies things a bit, telling us that Twelfth Night also marks the last day of Christmas festivities. (Could this be the 12 Days of Christmas?)


What interested me the most was that this holiday is designated as a time for merrymaking.
Wow! When was the last time you had a chance to make some merry? 

(Oh- yeah, I forgot- New Year's Eve.)

Personally, anytime I get the chance for merrymaking- or any excuse reason
holiday   chance to break my resolutions, I usually go for it. 


Anyway- I also discovered from my internet sources that it is considered unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up past this date.

(Hellooooooo- lady with the 60,595 bright twinkling lights, plastic Santa and sleigh, 45 - 5 ft candy canes and ten giant blow-up snow globes! It's time to take them down! It's time to put up those six thousand Easter eggs, giant bunnies and tacky lavender baskets full of artificial daffodils!)

http://izismile.com/2010/12/23/tacky_christmas_decorations_42_pics.html

Sorry.
I just had to say something.
That kind of thing bugs me...


So...
Some sources mention the inclusion of cake and alcohol- which I totally agree upon.
One custom is that a bean and a pea are baked into a cake. Slices of the cake are handed out to the guests and whoever gets the bean is declared "king", and the person getting the pea is "queen". Then the "king" is put in charge of the celebration and merrymaking.

Sounds right to me.

Southern tradition tweaks that a bit and hides a little plastic baby in a cake. 

: http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/24/mardi-gras-king-cake/

Hmmm.

Nothing like biting down on a tiny synthetic baby head to make the merrymaking even merrier! But I suppose after the alcohol, it probably goes down fairly easy.

Personally, I prefer my giant, deep-fat fried donuts with cheese, praline, cinnamon, or strawberry filling. 

But that's just me...


I suppose that in order to celebrate Epiphany or Twelfth Night correctly, I better take a quick drive to town and wave goodbye to that ten food plastic Santa, pick up some alcohol, and find a plastic baby to cook.


Enjoy your holiday!
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Just wanted to add a little note today to wish my sister-in-law Karla a wonderful, fun-filled birthday! Karla has been adopting a new healthy lifestyle and has lost a lot of weight since December! Yay, Karla! We hope to play follow the leader this year- with you at the lead!
Folks, this lady has got to be one of the sweetest and most soft-spoken people I know- but at the same time she holds her ground and stays tough! Love that!

And we love you, too, Karla!! Happy Birthday!

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Now- on with the merrymaking!!!