SOME TWELFTH NIGHT CUSTOMS
As Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, is a day dedicated to the three Wise Men
of the New Testament--the three kings of popular legend--it is only
natural that one or more kings should be everywhere prominent in the
celebration of the holiday.
The full trio are present in many places. Thus in Milan, Italy, three
young men dress themselves up in royal robes on Epiphany morning and
mounting horses as splendidly attired as themselves appear before
the city gates. They are admitted with loud cheers, and a procession
is formed. Before the kings marches a man bearing a large gilt star;
behind them the citizens fall into line. At every street corner new
batches of citizens join the parade. They file through the streets
to the cathedral. At its steps the kings dismount, and, with their
followers, march up the aisle to the high altar where a figure of
the infant Christ lies in a manger. Every one who wishes may leave a
present in the manger. Then the procession disbands.
In Madrid a bit of practical joking is still indulged in on Epiphany
eve. The peasants from miles around flock into the city at that time.
Many of them are very ignorant and very superstitious. The town folk
think it funny to gather together in small crowds all playing on noisy
horns and thumping discordant drums. The mobs parade up and down the
streets. Their great delight is to fall in with some simpleton who is
new to city ways. Such a man is easily made to believe that they are on
their way to meet the three kings, who are expected to arrive at one of
the gates some time that night.
The mob urge the countryman to join them. If he consents they throw
over his neck a mule collar with a string of bells attached to it. Then
a step ladder is thrust into his hands. To the jingling of his own
bells the poor yokel is made to carry the ladder through the streets.
At every one of the gates of the city the mob halt and command their
victim to climb up the ladder and peer over the walls to see if the
kings are anywhere in sight.
Sometimes when he reaches the top the poor wretch is allowed to fall,
at the risk of a cracked head or a broken limb. If he escapes all
dangers, he is led on from gate to gate until his patience or his faith
is exhausted.
[Illustration: The Child’s Twelfth Night Dream.
Drawing by John Leech.]
In England, as well as in France, a single king survives in the
ceremony of the Twelfth Cake. France, which was probably the
inventor of this eatable, known there as the King’s Cake, cherishes the
custom with especial gusto. So let us begin with the Galette du Roi.
The size of the cake is determined by the number of the guests for whom
it is to be served. It is usually made of pastry and is baked in a
round sheet like a pie. A broad bean was formerly baked into the cake,
but in our day a wee little china image is usually substituted for the
bean. When ready the cake is cut into slices and the youngest child at
the table directs how these slices shall be distributed to the others.
There is great excitement as slice after slice is handed out and eaten.
At last some one’s teeth come in contact with the image and he spits
it out. “He,” I say, on the supposition that it is a boy. If it is,
indeed, a boy, he is called King of the Bean (le Roi Favette), and
chooses a queen from among the girls. If it be a girl she becomes queen
and chooses a boy as her consort.
King and queen are now closely watched by their companions. When either
of them drinks the whole party has to cry out “The king drinks” or “the
queen drinks,” as the case may be. Any one who fails to join in the cry
has to pay a forfeit.
In England the custom varies in different localities as it has varied
at different dates.
What it was in London during the middle of the nineteenth century is
best described by Hone in his “Table Book:”
“First buy your cake,” says this author. “Next, look at your invitation
list, and count the number of ladies you expect, and afterwards the
number of gentlemen.
“Then you write down on slips of paper the names of as many famous
characters in history, male and female, as will cover the list of
guests. Add to each slip some pleasant bit of verse.
“Fold them up exactly of the same size, and number each on the back;
taking care to make the king No. 1 and the queen No. 2. Cause tea and
coffee to be handed to your visitors as they drop in. When all are
assembled and tea is over, put as many ladies’ characters in a reticule
as there are ladies present; next put the gentlemen’s characters in a
hat. Then call on a gentleman to carry the reticule to the ladies as
they sit; from which each lady is to draw one ticket and to preserve
it unopened. Select a lady to bear the hat to the gentlemen, for the
same purpose. There will be one ticket left in the reticule, and
another in the hat,--which the lady and gentleman who carried each is
to interchange, as having fallen to each. Next arrange your visitors,
according to their numbers;--the king No. 1, the queen No. 2 and so on.
The king is then to recite the verse on his ticket; then the queen a
verse on hers; and so the characters are to proceed in numerical order.
“This done, let the cake and refreshments go round; and hey! for
merriment!”
In earlier days, however, we know that the cake played a more
important part in the festivities than Hone allows to it. In fact the
English here closely followed the French fashion which I have already
described, although in England the King’s bean was supplemented by
a pea for the Queen. This much we may learn from a poem by Robert
Herrick, who lived in the seventeenth century:
Now, now, the mirth comes
With the cake full of plums,
Where bean is the king of the sport here;
Beside we must know,
The pea also
Must revel as queen in the court here.
Begin then to choose
This night as ye use,
Who shall for the present delight here;
Be a king by the lot,
And who shall not
Be Twelfth-day Queen for the night here.