# History of Epiphany and Twelfth Night: Ending the 12 Days of Christmas? > HISTORY OF TWELFTH NIGHT AND EPIPHANY Podcast version Twelfth Night is on January 5, the eve of Epiphany, which falls on January 6 in the Christian calendar. piphany signifies the event of the Magi, or Wise Men, visiting the baby Jesus.… > URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-epiphany-12th-night/ > Last modified: 2026-01-09T22:15:41+00:00 Reading Time: 3 minutes ## [](https://i0.wp.com/www.billpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/epiphany-706981.jpg?ssl=1)HISTORY OF TWELFTH NIGHT AND EPIPHANY [*Podcast version*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zirvzbeH6y7z6ZWPbvxlD?si=66dc86899ce7400b) **Twelfth Night** is on *January 5*, the eve of **Epiphany**, which falls on *January 6* in the Christian calendar. Epiphany signifies the event of the **Magi**, or [Wise Men](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-wise-men/), visiting the baby Jesus. In some Latin cultures, it is known as **Three Kings Day**. Or, as my friend [Tim LeCroy](https://pastortimlecroy.com/) likes to say, “Epiphany is the…   In Eastern (Orthodox and Oriental) churches, it is known as the **Feast of Theophany** (God Manifest). This feast commemorates Jesus’ baptism, with the attendant appearance of the Holy Spirit as a dove and the voice of God the Father. The story is recounted in all four Gospels of the New Testament. This date is also tied to Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine at the Wedding at Cana in the Gospel of John, Chapter 2.   Table of Contents Toggle - [Christmas vs. Advent](#Christmas_vs_Advent) - [Epiphany In the East](#Epiphany_In_the_East) - [Epiphany In the West](#Epiphany_In_the_West) - [Twelfth Night Play](#Twelfth_Night_Play) - [When Is Twelfth Night?](#When_Is_Twelfth_Night) - [Related](#Related) ### Christmas vs. Advent The [12 Days of Christmas](https://billpetro.com/history-of-12-days-of-christmas/) don’t end at Christmas; Advent does. Instead, the 12 days *start* with Christmas and end with Epiphany Eve. These 12 days are sometimes called **Christmastide**.     The subsequent “Epiphany season” or *Epiphanytide* lasts from January 6 through the day before [**Lent**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-mardi-gras). Some Latin American and European cultures extend this season to February 2 or [Candlemas](https://billpetro.com/history-of-groundhog-day).   ### Epiphany In the East “Epiphany” is a Greek word that means *manifestation*, *appearance*, *revelation*, or *showing forth*. Historically, Epiphany began in the Eastern Church as the celebration of the nativity of Jesus Christ during the 1st century. In the 2nd century, St. Clement of Alexandria discussed this celebration and the night vigil preceding the Feast. Additionally, 2nd-century **St. Hippolytus of Rome** and 3rd-century **St. Gregory the Miracle-Worker** discussed this observance. As the celebration of **[Christmas](https://billpetro.com/history-of-christmas-advent/)** spread eastward, Epiphany changed to its present meaning. It is sometimes called the *Feast of Lights*. It is ironic that in years when **[Chanukah](https://billpetro.com/history-of-chanukah/)** overlaps *Christmastide*, Epiphany is so close to Chanukah, the Jewish “Feast of Lights.” We recall that the villain in the Chanukah narrative was **Antiochus *Epiphanes* IV**, or “Antiochus, *God made manifest*.”   ### Epiphany In the West In Western churches (Protestant, Catholic, and Anglican), Epiphany commemorates the Magi’s “adoration” of the Christ Child as they presented their gifts. In this way, they were “revealing” Jesus to the world as Lord and King.   ### Twelfth Night Play [](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Daniel_Maclise_%281806-1870%29_-_Scene_from_%27Twelfth_Night%27_%28%27Malvolio_and_the_Countess%27%29_-_N00423_-_National_Gallery.jpg/525px-Daniel_Maclise_%281806-1870%29_-_Scene_from_%27Twelfth_Night%27_%28%27Malvolio_and_the_Countess%27%29_-_N00423_-_National_Gallery.jpg)Scene from ‘Twelfth Night’ (‘Malvolio and the Countess’), by Daniel Maclise. Image: [Tate](http://www.artuk.org/artworks/scene-from-twelfth-night-malvolio-and-the-countess-200625)   The preceding evening is sometimes called the “Twelfth Night,” being the 12th Day of Christmas. **William Shakespeare**‘s play by the same name, sometimes called *Twelfth Night or What You Will*, features mistaken identities, unrequited love, music, and merriment appropriate to Twelfth Night celebrations. It is likely the play was commissioned by [**Queen Elizabeth I**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-king-james-bible/#:~:text=Elizabeth%20I%20At%20Mary%E2%80%99s%20death%20in%201558%2C,Protestant%20subjects%20in%20the%20House%20of%20Commons.) for performance at the end of the embassy of the Italian diplomat, **Duke of Orsino** (the name of the play’s character who is *Duke of Illyria*) on January 6, 1601, at her Whitehall Palace. Other scholars debate this date, claiming it was first performed the following winter on February 2, 1602.   ### When Is Twelfth Night? There remains some confusion about which date **Twelfth Night** occurs. The older tradition, based on the custom of the Middle Ages, held that the beginning of a day began the evening before. This places Twelfth Night on the *eve of January 5* or the “Eve of the Feast of Epiphany.” Later traditions, in which the day begins at midnight, have Twelfth Night *on January 6,* with a party and the exchange of gifts. The Russian church’s Christmas, or **Feast of the Nativity**, is celebrated on January 7. Many Eastern Orthodox churches follow the older [Julian Calendar](https://billpetro.com/history-of-july) rather than the more widely accepted Gregorian Calendar. In the Julian Calendar, *December 25* corresponds to approximately *January 7* in the Gregorian Calendar. January 5 is *Paramony*, also known as the *Forefeast of Theophany*, the “Eve of the Feast of Epiphany,” paralleling the December 24 [Feast of Christmas Eve](https://billpetro.com/history-of-christmas-eve).   *By the way, you may take down your Christmas decorations now.*   Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian [billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com)   *Podcast*:   [*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to have future articles delivered to your email. ### *Related* [](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/pinterest?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/tumblr?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/snapchat?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/print?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fbillpetro.com%2Fhistory-of-epiphany-12th-night%2F&linkname=History%20of%20Epiphany%20and%20Twelfth%20Night%3A%20Ending%20the%2012%20Days%20of%20Christmas%3F)[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)