The evolving celebrations of Twelfth Night, the Epiphany and Nollaig na mBan

Whether you think of it as Twelfth Night, Nollaig na mBan or the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6 is widely accepted as the end of the Christmas season.

Like so many notable dates in our calendar, its origins are quite ancient and far predate Christianity.

Given that it falls in the depths of winter, it is hardly surprising that some of the traditions associated with January 6 are somewhat dark and sinister. They are more akin to Halloween or Samhain than to the bright and joyous festivities of Christmas.

One such custom recorded in some parts of the country is a death divination method also associated with Halloween. It involved making cakes of mud and adding candles named for each member of the household. The order in which the candles burned out was said to indicate the order in which the people represented would die. 

So deep was the superstition associated with January 6 that in 1839, when a hurricane claimed more than 100 lives and caused mass devastation across Ireland, it was believed to be of supernatural origin. 

The intensity of the storm was so extreme that many people feared that the end of the world had arrived. This was further fueled by the appearance of the Northern lights during a break in the clouds. 

According to a description of Dublin that evening in the Freeman’s Journal, the aurora borealis was ‘mantling the hemisphere with sheets of red.’

One can only imagine how terrifying it must have been.

In Christian terms, January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany. It is one of the oldest feast days on the Christian calendar, having been adopted by the western church in the fourth century. The Epiphany represents the arrival of the three wise men, or Magi, to the stable in Bethlehem, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honour the birth of Christ.

January 6 is also known as Little Christmas, and this is believed to have come from a period prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. On the older Julian calendar, Christmas Day was marked in early January. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted as the standard, December 25 became the accepted day to celebrate Christmas.

Twelfth Night has its origins in England. In pagan times, it revolved around the tradition of wassailing. This was a ritual of villagers coming together, sometimes in orchards, to drink mulled cider or ale from a communal bowl known as a wassail. The cider was often heated over a fire.

By mediaeval times, Twelfth Night had evolved to mark the end of 12 days of feasting starting on Christmas Day, The eve of the Feast of the Epiphany saw the climax of this period. It was celebrated with a special Twelfth Night cake and other indulgences.

The term Twelfth Night is also used in Ireland. In some areas, 12 candles or rushes were lit on the Eve of the Epiphany.

In more recent centuries, the traditions of Women’s Christmas, or Nollaig na mBan began. 

January 6 was seen as a rest day for women to reward all their hard work over Christmas. 

At a time when women were not generally allowed into pubs, Nollaig na mBan was the exception. Women could go to pubs or could gather together in each other’s homes and enjoy the leftovers from the Christmas feasting.

While the women were enjoying their one day off in the year, men did their work in the home. 

The tradition peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, and then began to die out. It had almost disappeared by the latter half of the 20th century. 

However, it has seen a revival in recent years, in an era where women feel more empowered and where we support and celebrate each other in a meaningful way.  

And in what is the quietest time of year for tourism businesses, Nollaig na mBan offers great opportunities for themed breaks, Prosecco brunches, afternoon teas and dinner evenings.

Looking back at my own childhood, the most significant thing about January 6 was that it was the last day of the school holidays. Up until relatively recently, the school closed for significant church feast days, including the Feast of the Epiphany.

I can remember being dressed in Mass clothes and carefully wrapping figures from the crib in newspaper, as well as placing the delicate Christmas tree baubles into a box and packing everything away for another year. 

I’d like to think I’m organised enough to take the decorations down on January 6 but it never really happens. I may get to it by the weekend. Or maybe not! 

If you celebrate Nollaig na mBan, enjoy the day. 

Wishing everyone all the best for 2023 x