New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-06
TWELFTH.DAY OBSERVANCES.
ANCIENT AND MODERN CELEBRATIONS
OF LITTLE CHRISTMAS"
MANY GAY FESTIVITIES THIS EvENINo-HINrs
FOR THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR

FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR
TWELFTH NIGHT" CAKE.
Among the many Of the good old customs
redivvus' is the of keeping Twelfth Day, or
Little Christmas. For centuries the celebration Of
this day stood only second to Christmas In Its char
acter religious festival: but after the reign Of
the Georges 1t gradually lost its place in the CAL
endar Of fesal days until the Iast few years when
the resusctation Of ancient customs and entertain
ments brings 1t again to the fore
Observed first a festival Of the Church by the
primitive Christians In commemoration Of the mani
festaon Of Christ to the Gentiles more expressly
to the three Mag of the East. who came led by the
TO worship the infant Christ It extended over
twelve days. especial attention being given to the
Observation-Disclosures the Great Epiphany and the
latter. the Lesser Epiphany.
In the Middle Ages crude little drama. THE
Feast Of the Star" celebrated the worship OF the
Mag. when the King the wise men. the priests and
the Child appeared and played their parts. closing
with a grand procession and a chanting service
HOW OBSERVED IN 1896.
At Milan in 1895 the preaching frars evolved
still more elaborate play. called THE Festival Of the
Three Kings" an account of which Is thus re-
corded In Wharton's History Of English Poetry:
THE three kings appeared crowned. on three great
horses richly habited. surrounded by pages. body
guards and an innumerable retinue. golden star
was exhibited in the sky. going before them They
proceeded to the pillars of st. Lawrence. where
King Herod represented with his scribes and
wise men. The three kings ask Herod where Christ
should be born and his wise men. having consulted
their books, answer. AT Bethlehem on which
the three kings. with their golden crowns, having
in their hands golden cups filled with franklin
cense, myrrh and gold-the star going before
marched to the Church Of ST. Eustorgius with all
their attendants preceded by trumpets, horses,
asses balloons and great variety OF animals.
I'm he on me
was a manger with an OK and ass and In 1t the
infant Christ In the arms Of his mother. Here the
three kings offer their gifts. The concourse. con-
tinues the writer mpressively. was such as never
man before beheld."
AS time went by. various customs. undoubtedly
of ancient and pagan origin, were added to the cele-
bration One OF these was the election Of the king
Of the festivities oy lot. bean serving as the ar
litter Of fate In England a large cake was baked
IN whose fragrant depths bean lay concealed
Then, when the family and friends were assembled.
the cake was divided by lot and whoever was so
fortunate to get the piece containing the bean
was crowned king of the Bean"
In France this custom gave rise to the proverb.
.'Il a trouve la feve au gateau," sgnifying good
luck.
Later a king without a queen being an anomaly,
two cakes were made one containing a bean and
the other a "pease." whose finder shared the
honors Of the occasion with the king. both parties
supporting the character until midnight
After the election the king monarch pro tenn. was
raised in the midst Of great acclaim. to the ceiling.
where he chalked crosses the rafters to protect
the house against evil spirits.
sHAKEsPEAREs TWELFTH NIGHT"
In 1906 Ben Jonsons "Masque OF Hymen' was
given before the Court while Shakespeares Twelfth
Night" also written for this occasion
From this time the festival was celebrated
with great eclat until the civil wars, expense be-
ohf ha Eng v.
according to the records occupied themselves with
the diversion Of blowing up pasteboard castles let
paste. the castle being bombarded from paste5oard
snip with van esrshe 'ns S W
Large pies also a feature OF the occasion,
active frogs to jump upon the unsuspectng opener:
Gambling also grew to be costly feature OF
Me Nsh M to his custom His Majesty
Charles opened the revels Of the night by throw
lost his fi0O the year before he won 1880
DURING ELIzABETTs TIME.
During Elizabeths reign the Lord Mayor. Alder
men and guilds Of London used to go to st. Paurs
on Twelfth Day to hear a sermon appropriate to
the occasion, while during the reigns OF the
Georges the King preceded by heralds. pursuit.
wants and the knights of the Garter Thistle and
went to the soS Shsp at an s myrr
imitation Of the Eastern Magi
Although the celebration OF Twei1th pay mas
was through no fault OF the bakers. who con-
tinued until few years ago to concoct most won
derfully composite cakes In honor OF this day A
fortress with flags flying. and sentinels OF doughty
mien and sugared aspect was favorte design,
ofttmes modelled on a scale OF such magnincence
as 10 require two ovens In the baking
With the renaissance OF the Twelfth Night en- |
tertainment and its indispensable cake this recipe
is in order substituting two bits Of silver-a coin
for the King and thimble Tor the Queen-in
place Of the traditional bean and 'pease':
RECIPE FOR TwELFTH-NIGHT CAKE.
Beat to cream one cupful Of fresh butter and |
two cupfuls Of graduated sugar. Beat six eggs, |
whites and yolks separately and stir the yolks |
little by little into the creamed butter and sugar.
Dissolve a Tablespoonful OF soda In cupful Of |
milk and sift teaspoonful Of cream o tartar |
into three cupfuls Of pastry flour Add the milk to
the batter little by little then the HOUR alternat-
ing with the beaten whites which should be folded
inonot stirred Add the grated rind and juice OF |
ia II n lemon, flavor with wine or brandy, ada a /
haf-cupful more OF flour X II does not seem very
stiff and pour in large round pan. lined with
buttered paper. Roll the silver pieces IN hour ana
nut on opposite sides Of the cake marking the |
dvision with two slips Of buttered paper set up
right in the dough. Bake slowly In a moderate
oven and when cold. ice with thick white FROST
ing ornamented as deliberately as possible sprays |
Of holly may be Initiated by candied cherries cut In
bits and strips of angelica. tiny Christmas
tree in the centre is also an appropriate nnisn.
or course the colors used In decorating the
twelfth Night feast must be the traditional
colors Of red and green.
While the King and Queen rule the festivities
nd their lovai subjects. other characters may also
be assumed for the occasion sucn as Prime Min
ster" LADY waiting" tester, etc
These characters are awarded oy means OF caros
10 Two bags to be drawn from by the participants