Revitalizing "Twelfth Night" while prepping for Wintertyde's start

Courtesy www.enchanted-woods.com Poor Twelfth Night! Once upon a time the blowout we celebrate on Christmas Day occurred on Twelfth Night, January 5th. "Twelfth Night" marks the 12th day of Christmas and the time that the 3 Magi were just pulling into in Bethlehem. Epiphany occurs the next day on January 6th. In any event, "Twelfth Night" has pretty much been relegated to a discussion of Shakespeare's play of the same name. Nonetheless, by celebrating Wintertyde, Twelfth Night has a chance of revival! Wintertyders usually put up their Wintertyde wreaths and set up the tree and lights on January 5th, Wintertyde Eve. Technically, Wintertyde begins on January 7th. So, The Green Man suggests combining the celebration of Twelfth Night with preparations for Wintertyde. Also, by resuscitating Twelfth Night, a diversion is created to avoid the dreaded "post-holiday let-down." The goal for Wintertyders is to achieve a seamless and emotionally smooth transition from the end of Christmas and right into Wintertyde, thus leaving no space for "holiday blues." So there you have it. Brush up on your Twelfth Night knowledge and skills here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_%28holiday%29 and here: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/twelfthnight/traditions.html "The Holly Man from the Thames" To herald the celebration, the extraordinary Holly Man, the winter guise of the Green Man, (a character from pagan myths and folklore, used on many pub signs in England), decked in fantastic green garb and evergreen foliage, appears from the River Thames brought by the Thames Cutter.