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Twelfth Night’s Message for a New Year
The room is alive with laughter as you step into the Twelfth Night celebration. The flicker of candlelight dances on the walls, casting playful shadows of people in bright, mismatched costumes. A woman dressed as a jester twirls by, her bells jingling in time with the music, while a man wearing a paper crown and a velvet robe holds court near the fireplace, pretending to issue royal decrees.
The air is rich with the scent of spices wine and roasting foods. Pies, breads, and other foods spill over onto their dishes on the dining table, with a glittering cake adorned with sugared fruits as the centerpiece; its hidden treasures waiting to be discovered by the youngest children who will be crowned the King and Queen of Misrule. A fiddler strikes up a lively tune, joined by a tambourine and a drum, and a group of revelers bursts into an impromptu song, their voices blending with hearty laughter.
This ancient tradition of Twelfth Night marks the night the world turns delightfully upside down. The queen has traded her throne for a seat by the hearth, jesters command the attention of the crowd, and revelers from every walk of life have set aside their roles to embrace the joy of the moment.
But this celebration, whose origins date back to Roman Saturnalia and Celtic Yule festivals (later Christianized by the Council of Tours in 567), is more than just merrymaking. Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany, carries a deeper truth. It’s a reminder of reversals and transformation—a moment when the ordinary becomes extraordinary and the unexpected takes center stage.
Twelfth Night invites us into a world turned upside down, where the boundaries of power, status, and privilege dissolve. This spirit of reversal echoes the story of the Magi, who left their royal courts to bow before a child in a manger. The humility of their journey reminds us that God’s realm is found in the unexpected: where power serves the vulnerable, and light shines in the darkness.
This invitation to imagine a different reality feels especially urgent as we step into 2025. What might change in our lives and communities if we embraced the reversals of God’s love—where the last are first, the grieving are comforted, and joy springs up in the most unlikely places?
Twelfth Night also teaches us the importance of joy. The music, laughter, and shared feast are more than indulgence; they are acts of resistance against despair. The Magi, too, were seekers of joy. They crossed deserts and mountains, following a star not just to witness something extraordinary but to celebrate it. Their gifts were acts of reverence and delight, honoring a love that would change the world.
As we begin a new year, this joy is essential. It sustains us through challenges and binds us together as a community. What might it look like for us to seek and celebrate joy in our worship, relationships, and work for justice?
Epiphany reminds us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Twelfth Night assures us that hope can thrive even in the most unexpected places. These celebrations of revelry and reversals challenge us to look for the light of Christ—not in the halls of power but in the humble and the overlooked.
So, as the music fades and the revelers leave the hall, let us carry the spirit of Twelfth Night into 2025. May we embrace the reversals that point us toward justice, the joy that sustains us, and the hope that lights our way. Together, let us follow the star, trusting that wherever it leads, it will illuminate a path of love, transformation, and grace.
Joyous Revelry and Happy Epiphany,
Pastor Robin
