Twelfth Night means more than taking down the Christmas tree

The Epiphany. The conclusion of the 12 Days of Christmas. The official kickoff to the carnival season. However you look at it, the Twelfth Night is chock-full of symbolism and meaning.

Many people consider the dozen days leading up to Dec. 25 as the official 12 Days of Christmas. Just flip on your tele around mid-month and you can catch a countdown to Christmas insinuating that the twelve days precede the annual event, when in fact they follow the big day.

Those seven swans a-swimming ring in the new year, while the 12 drummers drumming arrive on Jan. 6, a date that some branches of Christianity mark as the feast of the Epiphany.

The Epiphany denotes the arrival of the Three Kings (Wise Men or Magi) at Jesus’ manger in Bethlehem. The Twelfth Night is often recognized as falling on this day; however, there is some disagreement as to whether the Twelfth Night should be celebrated on the night of the Epiphany or the evening before.

In south Louisiana, the festival is observed on Jan. 6, and celebrates the end of Christmas with the start of the Mardi Gras season. As in many cultures, the occasion is commemorated with food, drink and merriment.

Every year for more than 15 years, Houma’s Plantation Inn has hosted their Twelfth Night Rendezvoux on the eve of the Epiphany. The annual function is attended by several hundred guests, many of whom are members of carnival crews. According to Melanie Burton, Plantation Inn’s Administrative Assistant, the event actually started as a thank you to the carnival organizations.

“It was a giveback to the numerous Mardi Gras’ crews that would hold their float meetings here all year long, which they still do … and it just stuck,” she explained.

The adult only party is free to attend and doors open to the public at 6 p.m. Guests can dance, socialize, eat and enjoy beverages from the cash bar. Mistress of Ceremonies Shirley Crowley of Creole Lanes, DJ Gloria and local band Flatline will entertain this year’s attendees.

More entertainment ensues when the royalty of the upcoming Mardi Gras season is honored, which Burton said is the primary purpose of the evening.

“(Crowley) emcees it every year and during the evening we have a sign-in sheet for people to sign if they are royalty. And then there is an introduction of the royalty that is here and a toast by everyone,” she said.

Delectable fingerfood items including chicken drummettes, meatballs, chicken and sausage gumbo, sandwiches and more are on the menu. Traditionally, the first king cake of the season is also supposed to be served on the Twelfth Night.

In some customs, a bean was placed inside the Twelfth-cake and whoever found the bean was named king, or sometimes queen, of the night’s ceremonies. Occasionally, a pea was added, while some people tended to use coins, pecans or even jewels. Eventually, a Mardi Gras’ king cake baby was born.

While the Twelfth Night Rendezvouz does not allow the dessert to decide who presides, “there is always king cake for Twelfth Night,” said Burton, who has never missed the social affair since 1997, the year she started working at the inn.

For more information about the Twelfth Night Renezvoux or to be a vendor at the event, contact the Plantation Inn at (985) 868-0500.

And for those of you who are superstitious, the Twelfth Night also means it is time take down those Christmas decorations. If you don’t, you may be riddled with bad luck and not catch anything at the parades.

Twelfth Night means more than taking down the Christmas tree