Henry's Holidays: A Tumultuous Twelfth Night Quiz

Answer: All Hallows' Eve

Our winter festival begins on All Hallows Eve, and ends on Twelfth Night. Do not think for a moment, however, that it is all fun, games, and parties. Nothing could be further from the truth! The four weeks leading up to Christmas, which we call Advent, is a period of fasting, in contemplation of the coming of Christ. Certain foods are just not allowed, especially on Christmas Eve, when we cannot eat eggs, cheese or meat.

By the time we celebrate three masses on Christmas Day, we are ready for a feast! The winter festival ends with the party on Twelfth Night, and we then continue with the next phase on the Church calendar.

Answer: True

The main days for celebration at this time of year are Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Twelfth Night, although there are further celebrations during the Twelve Days of Christmas for saint's days. For example, December 26 is St. Stephen's Day. He was the first Christian martyr; December 27 is the feast day of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. Every day of the Twelve Days of Christmas has a specific meaning and ritual. While we do have festivities, it also seems like we spend a lot of time in Church!

Answer: January 5

Twelfth Night is the last of the twelve days of Christmas. During this time, it is forbidden to do any work, such as farming or spinning. It is an important time for us to visit within our community, and my Lord, the Earl of Warwick, is especially kind to all the people who live on his fief.

While we count Christmas night as Day 1, others count December 26 as Day 1, and their Twelfth Night celebrations are on January 6.

Answer: Three Wise Men

Twelfth Night is also called Epiphany Eve, so it ushers in the beginning of the Epiphany season. It is believed that not only did the three wise men visit the baby Jesus during this time, but when Christ was thirty years old, he was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, during Epiphany.

The tradition of the nativity, or crèche, began in Italy, however, Lord Richard bought one for Warwick Castle after we saw one on a recent trip to Rome.

Answer: By finding a special bean in his food

While it is tradition at Warwick Castle for the Lord of Misrule to have a more serious role on Christmas Day, it is just the opposite on Twelfth Night! The Lord of Misrule symbolizes the role reversal of lords and peasants; in fact, many times the Lord of Misrule is one of the serfs on the estate.

This is a tradition that dates all the way back to ancient Rome. The man who finds the special bean is proclaimed King, while the woman who finds a pea in her food is the Queen. Dressed in special costumes, they rule the party until midnight and direct the fun, sometimes making the guests do silly or embarrassing tasks.

It seems to be the source of great fun for the adults.

Answer: She is thinking of presenting an elaborate entertainment

A masque involves singing, dancing, costumes, and stage design. Many times professional actors are hired. A masque may have many different themes; for Twelfth Night my Lady will want to keep the mood light. She is talking about a mythological theme based on the founding of the Capitoline Hill by the ancient Roman god, Saturn. That will help explain the origin of many of the traditions that we still celebrate today.

Some of the themes of masques are political or social in nature, but that isn't really appropriate for this celebration. My Lady has even said that some of us pages might be asked to play some of the non-speaking/singing parts!

Answer: Apple Trees

Another name for wassailing is caroling. There are two kinds of wassailing; the first type is when individuals from the manor come to visit Lord Richard. "We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door/But we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before".

After receiving food a drink from Lord Richard, the wassailers will finish their song, "Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too; And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year". Tonight, though, we are also going wassailing to the apple orchard. We will sing to the trees, hoping wake them up and drive away any evil spirits to insure a bountiful harvest in the autumn. "Here's to thee, old apple tree,That blooms well, bears well. Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, An' all under one tree. Hurrah! Hurrah"!

Answer: Cake

Many countries have different traditions, but in England the special food is a cake. That is where the pea and bean that determine the King and Queen of Twelfth Night can be found. The cake, which is called a fruit cake, is so good! Sometimes there are other objects hidden in the cake.

For example, the person who finds the clove is the villain, and the person who finds a twig is the fool! I don't really care about finding anything in my cake; I just hope to eat my fill!

Answer: Plough Monday

Plough Monday is the first Monday after Twelfth Night. It is the day that everyone on the manor has to go back to work! In some areas a plough is pushed through the manor, and the people try to collect money as they go from hut to hut. Plough Monday is considered to be the beginning of our agricultural year.

The farmers, or serfs, on my Lord Richard's estate work very hard, and it is nice for them to have a time of rest, fun, and food during the Twelve Days of Christmas. Lord Richard has done a good job of teaching us pages how to treat people on our estate - if we ever have one! But really, it is important for a future knight to learn how to treat people well.

Answer: Take down Christmas decorations

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but the festivities abruptly end on Twelfth Night. It is a bit disappointing to have to take all the beautiful greenery down. We used to be able to enjoy the decorations until Candlemas on February 2, but I am happy to help my Lady with the chore.